South Africa has been a key partner in the Global Environment Facility’s Sustainable Cities Program across both GEF-6 and GEF-8 SCIP, advancing integrated, climate-resilient, and inclusive urban development. Under GEF-6, South African cities strengthened their planning frameworks, explored low-carbon infrastructure options, and advanced data-driven approaches to sustainable urban management. Building on this foundation, GEF-8 SCIP supports Johannesburg and four secondary cities/districts, focusing on metropolitan-scale integration, nature-based solutions, circular economy approaches, and strengthened municipal finance and PPP frameworks. As South African cities confront challenges related to rapid population growth, service delivery pressures, ecological degradation, and climate vulnerability—particularly flooding, heat, and water stress—SCIP helps align planning cycles, expand green infrastructure, and develop investment-ready pipelines. South Africa’s multi-cycle engagement provides valuable lessons to the global GEF and GPSC networks on how diversified urban systems can transition toward more resilient, equitable, and low-carbon futures.