Barbara
Barros
Senior Adaptation Finance Manager
Academy
Adaptation Finance Academy for Latin America
At this three-day workshop, city and national officials from Latin America shared their experiences and discussed approaches and mechanisms for financing local climate adaptation.
Opening session at UrbanShift's Adaptation Finance Academy in Santiago, Chile
The Urbanshift Adaptation Finance Academy for Latin American cities was held in Santiago de Chile from November 22-24, 2022. The event brought together 45 representatives from more than 15 cities in the region, including Mexico City, Guadalajara and Zapopán (Mexico); Lima (Peru); Bogotá and Medellín (Colombia); Quito (Ecuador), Buenos Aires, Salta, Ushuaia, Mar del Plata, and Mendoza (Argentina); San José (Costa Rica); Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Maipú, Colina, Vitacura, Independencia, Peñalolén, and Lo Barnechea (Chile), as well as representatives from three national governments. Over the course of the workshop, participants shared experiences and discussed ideas about approaches and mechanisms for financing local climate adaptation interventions.
Among the high-level officials who attended the opening session were the Minister of Environment of Chile, Maisa Rojas; Governor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Claudio Orrego; and Mayor of the City of Peñalolén, Carolina Leitao. Representatives from global and regional financial, philanthropic, and research institutions, such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), GAP Fund, Banobras, Fundación Avina, UN Capital Develpopment Fund, and WRI Cities4Forests presented on how their respective organizations are supporting cities and national governments to accelerate the implementation of locally appropriate adaptation interventions.
The objectives of the academy were as follows:
- Strengthen cities' understanding of financing for nature-based solution (NbS), including feasibility studies, effectiveness and bankability of NbS
- Enhance the capacity of cities and national governments to prepare projects for financing adaptation and pitch to investors
- Mainstream adaptation into city budgets and capital investment planning
- Identify capacity-building needs in project planning and financial sustainability
The workshop also included a site visit to the Santiago Metropolitan Park, one of the largest urban parks in Latin America.
This Finance Academy was organized with the support of Santiago de Chile, UrbanShift, and C40.
LEARN MORE
Recap
Buenos Aires Hosts UrbanShift's Second City Academy
The three-day workshop brought together 24 Latin American cities to learn about and exchange ideas on developing vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods and promoting urban biodiversity as strategies to create greener and more resilient cities.
Report
Addressing Finance and Capacity Barriers
This paper advocates for cities to adopt nature-based solutions through evidence-based arguments and case studies of cities across the globe.
Academy
Clean Energy & Buildings Finance Academy
Hosted in Cape Town, this UrbanShift workshop brought together eight cities to discuss the promotion and financing of small-scale clean energy generation on public and private buildings.
Advocacy
UrbanShift at Biodiversity COP15
The Biodiversity COP15 saw the adoption of the post-2020 framework, which provides a roadmap for biodiversity conservation, protection, restoration & management for the next decade. Read about UrbanShift's participation at the conference.
