MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE FOR INTEGRATED URBAN PLANNING

A Guide for multilevel action based on learnings from UrbanShift
Back English Handbook / Guide Published: 04.12.2025
Authors

Karishma Asarpota, Senior Officer, Climate Action , ICLEI

Maryke van Staden, Director of carbonn Climate Centre, Director , ICLEI

Alyssa Chenault, Operations Manager, Climate Action , ICLEI

National governments can deliver their climate and environmental commitments but need local governments and local action in cities to do so efficiently and to the necessary level of ambition. In turn, local governments and their cities require clear mandates and resources, also to access the required finance without explicit national engagement, guidance and support. In the UrbanShift project, funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) under GEF-7, we explored this in a practical approach in nine countries, co-designed a way forward and close this gap: National–Local Dialogues addressing Multilevel Governance and a wide array of topics that have the potential for high impact local action and could contribute to national targets, were organized. These dialogues led to eight co-developed Country Roadmaps owned by their respective national and local governments, outlining a way forward on how MLG could support and advance collaborative action across different levels of government

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