UK aid for sustainable cities

Our approach

This review will scrutinise how well the UK government is using official development assistance (ODA) to support sustainable cities, with reference to its stated objectives: economic (growth and prosperity), social (inequality and poverty) and environmental (climate change, sustainability and resilience). The review will also look at the extent to which UK ODA is strengthening governance arrangements, as a key lever for sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban development.  

Covering bilateral and multilateral programming and UK ODA-funded private sector investment between 2015 and 2022, and including case studies on Indonesia and South Africa, the review will encompass aid-funded investments, research programmes and grant-funded programmes as well as policy engagement, international advocacy around sustainable cities and the UK’s role in mobilising private sector financing.  

Review questions

1. Relevance: Does the UK have a clear and credible approach to promoting sustainable cities that aligns with its broader objectives? 
2. Effectiveness: How effectively is the UK’s support for urban programmes achieving its intended results on sustainable cities? 
3. Coherence: How coherent is the UK’s approach to promoting sustainable cities?