The overall aim of the work programme on Financing the Urban Transition is to empower national decisionmakers with the knowledge and tools to better unlock, direct, and facilitate urban finance. Doing so will enable compact, connected urban infrastructure that supports sustainable development.
This paper is a background review representing part of the initial phase of the Financing the Urban Transition work programme. The review builds on a growing body of research that highlights both the importance of national sustainable infrastructure and the need to develop more effective and efficient financing mechanisms for delivering compact, connected cities that meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.