Municipal and environmental infrastructure

Better water, improved public transport, cleaner cities – these are just a few of the benefits that stem from the activities of the EBRD and its donors. They improve the daily quality of life for millions of people and help local firms thrive.

In 2016, EBRD investments to modernise municipal infrastructure were supported by many donors. Among them were the European Union, Sweden, Austria, Taipei China and the United Kingdom, as well as the multi-donor Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) Fund, Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP) Fund and Early Transition Countries Fund.

These modernisation investments included seven projects in water and wastewater, two in district-heating energy-efficiency, five in municipal transport operations and five in solid waste. Activities in these areas continued to target countries facing the strongest transition challenges, in eastern Europe, the southern Caucasus and Central Asia.

In order to boost these activities, the Bank launched its Green Cities Framework in 2016. The Framework supports governments, municipalities, municipal-owned and private companies to meet environmental challenges and improve urban quality of life. Under the Framework, the first project in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, saw support from the E5P Fund to improve energy efficiency in over 100 public buildings.

In Jordan and Turkey the large influx of refugees is placing pressure on municipal services. In order to ease this pressure the Bank and donors such as the United Kingdom and the European Union supported projects in 2016 to improve water and sanitation, solid waste management and urban transport services.

The Green Cities Framework will be complemented by substantial donor funding for co-investment. In addition, technical cooperation (TC) will support the long-term sustainability of projects. The TC will include support for reforms to improve municipal institutions and services, and in particular, reforms that promote inclusion and gender equality.