The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has allocated over €1.2 million (more than Ksh166 million) in technical assistance to support climate-resilient urban development projects in East African cities.
The funding will benefit cities in Kenya, including Kericho, Nyamira, Kisumu, Embu, Eldoret, and Malindi, as well as Zanzibar in Tanzania and Makindye in Uganda.
The initiative is part of the City Climate Finance Gap Fund, a multi-donor trust fund supported by Germany and Luxembourg, implemented jointly with the World Bank and in close partnership with German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
EIB Global’s support focuses on early-stage project preparation to help cities access finance for urban projects that might otherwise remain at the conceptual stage.
The technical assistance will prioritize solid waste and faecal sludge management, waste-to-energy solutions through biogas production, and wastewater treatment.
Proposed strategies include integrated solid waste management plans featuring waste segregation at the source, separate waste collections, recovery processes, and proper disposal.
Additionally, the assistance program will support active mobility initiatives by assessing non-motorized transport options and implementing flood-proofing measures to mitigate urban flood risks.
The plan also emphasizes environmental sustainability through the establishment of green public parks, expansion of urban forestry, and biodiversity conservation.
In Kenya, the program aligns with the Kenya Urban Support Programme II, an ongoing infrastructure investment initiative, enabling the cities to seek further financing upon completion of the Gap Fund’s technical assistance.
EIB Vice President Thomas Östros underscored the crucial role of local governments in climate action pointing to their firsthand experience with climate change impacts and the difficulties they face in securing funding for projects.
“Cities and local governments play a key role in fighting climate change because they experience its effects the most. However, they often struggle to develop climate-resilient infrastructure, mainly due to a lack of resources and expertise to create strong, investment-ready projects. Through its support for the Gap Fund, the EIB helps cities bridge these gaps and prepare effective climate projects,” he said.
