Local authorities in SEE invited to apply to host workshop on financing options for greener cities

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, in cooperation with the EKLIPSE project and NATURVATION project, are inviting local authorities in South-East Europe (SEE) to apply to host a two-day capacity-building workshop titled: Exploring financing options for greener cities – strengthening the capacity of local stakeholders to explore appropriate financing arrangements for nature-based interventions.

The applying municipality must be an organization located in one of these EU countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. It should also be a local or regional public administration and be able to offer the space(s) for 2 consecutive days in the interval September 16 – October 11, 2019.

Cities interested in hosting the event are invited to review the call for host document. The deadline for the submission of bids is 23:59 (CET), March 31, 2019.

ICLEI, a network of over 1,500 cities, towns, and regions committed to achieving tangible improvements in global sustainability and environmental conditions through cumulative local actions, said the event subject to the call will bring together researchers and representatives from local authorities and civil society across the EU.

The event is aimed at increasing participants’ capacity to develop effective financing arrangements for local biodiversity, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions interventions in response to local urban challenges.

EKLIPSE, which is helping organize the event, is an EU-funded project that started in February 2016. The project aims to establish a robust and flexible long-term mechanism to provide knowledge for policy support on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

NATure-based URban innovation, also a co-organizer, is a 4-year project involving 14 institutions across Europe in the fields of urban development, geography, innovation studies, and economics.