UK Expertise for Green Cities and Infrastructure (GCI)

The FCDO is seeking a supplier to support the implementation of a new programme focused on FCDO's objective to accelerate climate resilient inclusive economic development in developing countries. UK Expertise for Green Cities and Infrastructure (GCI) is central to delivering the FCDO's Centre of Expertise in Green Cities and Infrastructure. GCI will provide strategic and technical advice to posts and partner governments, working in partnership with British International Investment (BII) and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) as well as (other) multilateral development partners (e.g. Multilateral Development Banks).

Investment in green cities and resilient infrastructure is vital to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and to build back better after the pandemic. Low- and middle-income countries need to expand infrastructure investment seven-fold (to over $1 trillion per year) just to support their transition to net zero. Investment will be driven by a range of UK stakeholders working in concert to deliver technical assistance to partner governments, addressing their infrastructure needs. High quality resilient infrastructure and well-functioning green cities are essential for economic and human development. To this end, GCI will provide high quality technical assistance to FCDO posts and partner governments to develop and implement low-carbon, resilient infrastructure projects in cities.

GCI will also play a role in unlocking investment opportunities for green infrastructure projects. UK expertise can bring prosperity to developing countries and to the UK by unlocking trade and investment and commercial opportunities for firms including UK businesses as part of the UK's wider strategic bilateral relationships.

GCI will build on a legacy of successful programmes, whilst expanding FCDO's capability to draw on the full range of HMG tools and levers including our external partnerships. The Centre of Expertise will coordinate with a number of other programmes, including UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (PACT), to provide technical support and strategic policy advice to FCDO posts. It will build on the lessons from the successful cities and infrastructure programmes (Global Future Cities, Cities and Infrastructure for Growth) delivered in recent years in DFID and the Prosperity Fund.

NB: GCI is the new name for the Centre for Resilient Cities and Infrastructure (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-GOV-1-300566/summary). Devtracker will be updated by end of March.