Cities Forward
Commitment to Action
The Cities Forward program, a collaborative partnership of the U.S. Department of State, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Resilient Cities Catalyst, and The Institute of the Americas, provides peer-to-peer exchange, capacity building, and diplomatic engagement, all focused on implementing projects that solve critical urban challenges around sustainability, inclusivity, and resiliency.
This transformative program will help Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) cities create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient futures with knowledge sharing with U.S. cities.
Cities Forward Pairings
We are proud to announce the 24 cities selected to participate in the Cities Forward program, a flagship urban sustainability initiative launched at the Cities Summit of the Americas. We are inspired by the widespread commitment to urban sustainability, resilience, and inclusion from the responses of 129 applications from cities across the Americas. The cities that were not selected are eligible to participate in the virtual Cities Forward Academy to learn about the outcomes and best practices. Stay tuned for updates!
We are thrilled to announce the new pairing between Manaus, Brazil, and Albany, New York! Congratulations to the selected cities with their pairings!
We look forward to working closely with the selected cities while continuing to engage and support all municipalities passionate about building a more sustainable future.
Cities Forward Participants Reflections During the Enabling Environment Workshops
Several Cities Forward city participants gathered for the ‘Enabling Environment’ Workshops to solidify their project plans, craft clear roadmaps, and equip themselves with powerful tools to achieve their ambitious goals.
Listen to insights from the following participants about their experiences during the inaugural Enabling Environment Workshop in Mérida, Mexico:
- Alejandra Bolio, Director of Sustainable Development, Mérida, México
- Andres Felipe Marmolejo Egred, International Advisor, Cali, Colombia
- Carlos Soberanis, First Trustee, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Dwight Crawford, Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama
- Silvina Di Nucci, Director of Environmental Inspection, Rosario, Argentia
A huge thank you to the Cities Forward participants, the City of Mérida, and the City of Fortaleza for hosting the workshops! Stay tuned for updates on the next workshop.
Our Goal
We will help participating cities implement local solutions and priority projects to increase investments across urban challenges that promote and build:
- sustainability
- inclusivity
- local capacity, and
- neighborhood and community resilience
By collaborating with our Western Hemisphere neighbors, we seek to build equitable and inclusive economic opportunities, strengthen sustainability, and promote a healthy environment for all. Explore the Cities Forward Fact Sheet in Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Our Principles
These three key principles will guide Cities Forward:
- City-led: local stakeholders will lead action plan design and local project implementation.
- Inclusive: actions taken must benefit the cities’ poor, underserved, and underrepresented residents.
- Sustainable: solutions must be environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.
Program Elements
Cities Forward focuses on solving key sustainability, equity, and resilience issues through interconnected activities:
Resources
Stay informed about the program’s latest developments! Explore the FAQ webinars and informational sheets to delve into the initiative’s objectives, goals, and application process for U.S./LAC cities. As the program progresses, additional details will be made available.
For any questions, please email citiesforwardUSA@iclei.org (U.S. cities) or citiesforwardLAC@iclei.org (LAC cities).
Meet Your Project Team
The Cities Forward logo includes artwork from the Cities Summit of the Americas logo designed by Daniela Portugal Escalante of La Paz, Bolivia, with additional typographical design by Alex Quinto, a design advisor for Resilient Cities Catalyst from Mexico City.
Explore Photos from Cities Forward Workshops
