On July 28 and 29, local governments from across the Middle East and West Asia gathered in Konya, Türkiye for the UCLG-MEWA Forum on Innovation and Food Systems and the inaugural meeting of the UCLG-MEWA Working Group on Food and Agriculture, hosted by Selçuklu Municipality. The meeting brought together mayors, municipal leaders, international organisations, technical experts and development partners to establish a roadmap for regional cooperation on resilient and climate-responsive food systems.
Among the thematic discussions was an intervention by the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM)–City Climate Finance Gap Fund Partnership, highlighting one of the largest gaps in urban climate finance.
Food systems account for approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet receive around seven percent of global climate finance. Drawing on lessons from the Partnership’s work, Shaden Al Galaly, MENA Region Lead for the Partnership, presented on a panel with representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ankara University, Industrial Training & Consulting Institute for MENA, Marmara Municipalities Union, and the Mediterranean Municipalities Union, that the challenge is not a lack of municipal ambition, but a lack of adequate preparation, aggregation and financing pathways that enable projects to become investment-ready.
The intervention demonstrated how municipalities can improve project bankability by identifying financing pathways early, aligning projects with national priorities, and aggregating similar investments across multiple cities. Rather than focus on a technology-first approach, municipalities were encouraged to understand local needs, determine the most appropriate solution through preparatory studies, and build projects that combine environmental, social and financial value.
A central message was that food systems should not be viewed as a standalone sector. Food security depends on functioning waste management, water systems, transport, energy, land management and strong urban-rural linkages. As a result, financing food systems requires integrated urban investment rather than isolated agricultural interventions.
The response from municipalities demonstrated the urgency of this discussion. Following the session, representatives from approximately 50 municipalities approached the GCoM–Gap Fund Partnership to discuss potential collaboration on project priorities and integrated urban interventions for circular economy, waste management, water, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, climate adaptation and other urban resilience priorities. The conversations reinforced a key conclusion emerging from the Working Group: municipalities rarely face single-sector challenges. Food systems are often the entry point to much broader urban development needs, requiring integrated planning and coordinated financing.
The gathering was also particularly significant as it coincided with the near completion of the City Climate Finance Gap Fund technical assistance for the municipality of Karatay, Türkiye. Supported by the GCoM–Gap Fund Partnership from the early stages of its application, Karatay’s journey reflects the Forum’s central message: that municipalities require structured preparation, strategic partnerships and integrated planning to transform local priorities into bankable climate investments.
Building on the momentum generated during the Forum, the GCoM–Gap Fund Partnership will continue engaging with interested municipalities to identify opportunities for project preparation, regional aggregation and climate finance mobilisation. Particular attention will be given to strengthening urban-rural linkages, circular economy approaches and investment pathways that enable cities to move from project ideas to finance-ready programs.
