GPSC City Academy on Green Urban Infrastructure and Nature-Cultural Tourism
01 June 2026 - 03 June 2026,
The GPSC City Academy in Samarkand is being organized in collaboration with UNESCO, focusing on Green Urban Infrastructure and Nature-Cultural Tourism in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from June 1–3, 2026, in conjunction with the GEF-8 Assembly. The Academy will bring together project teams, city representatives, and technical experts from across the GEF Sustainable Cities Integrated Program (SCIP), World Bank project cities, and partner institutions for structured technical exchange, peer learning, and practical problem-solving.
The Academy is designed to support cities in moving from conceptual approaches to integrated, system-level planning and implementation of GI networks. It will provide practical guidance on how to identify, plan, and prioritize GI systems across spatial scales, while strengthening linkages with land use planning, infrastructure investments, and service delivery systems.
Structured around a practical pathway—from planning, to prioritization, to financing and value creation, and ultimately to implementation—the Academy will combine targeted technical inputs, case-based learning, and interactive operational clinics. Participating cities will be expected to actively engage in identifying priority challenges and developing initial, action-oriented outputs to inform ongoing and future project implementation.
Rapid urbanization, climate risks, and increasing infrastructure demands are placing pressure on cities to deliver more resilient, inclusive, and resource-efficient urban systems. In this context, green infrastructure (GI) is emerging as a critical component of urban development, offering integrated solutions that can enhance resilience, support ecosystem services, and contribute to livability and local economic development. However, in many cities, GI interventions remain fragmented and insufficiently embedded within urban planning, infrastructure systems, and investment processes.
The City Academy is structured around a set of interrelated themes that reflect the key dimensions of advancing green infrastructure systems in cities:
- Integrated Planning of Green Infrastructure Systems. Approaches for planning GI as connected, multi-functional networks across spatial scales, and embedding these within land use planning and sectoral systems.
- Nature-Based Economic Development and Tourism. Leveraging GI systems to generate economic value, including through nature-based and cultural tourism, while supporting local livelihoods and city competitiveness
Day 1 – Monday, June 1
Time | Opening session | Speakers | ||
09:00-9:30
09:30-10:30 (60 min) | Welcome and Opening Remarks This session will open the Academy with welcome remarks, an overview of objectives and structure, and participant introductions.
Group Photo
Rapid Introductions of Participating Cities The GPSC team will share a template for the city introduction. Each city will have three minutes for the presentation. |
City Participants | ||
10:30-10:45 | Coffee Break |
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10:45-12:15 (90 min) | Session 1. Introducing the GI Handbook: A Network Approach to Green Infrastructure | Speakers | ||
| This session introduces the Green Infrastructure (GI) Handbook as a practical tool for network-based urban planning. The session will be complemented by Guangzhou case study and a discussion. | Presentation of GI Network Approach
Guangzhou case study
Q&A
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12:15 -13:30 | Lunch Break |
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13:30-15:00 (90 min) | Session 2. Planning Green Infrastructure as Integrated Networks | Speakers | ||
| This session presents a practical, step‑by‑step framework for planning green infrastructure (GI) as integrated, multi‑functional networks across scales. These concepts are illustrated through 3 case studies. | Case Studies:
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15:00-15:15 | Coffee Break | |||
15:15-4:45 (90 MIN) | Session 3. Group Discussion and Plenary | Speakers
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| Group learning: each table to have two project cities
| Representatives from each group
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18:00-20:00 | Networking Reception (venue tbd) | |||
Day 2 – Tuesday, June 2
9:00-10:30 (90 min) | Session 4. Tools and data for decision making | Speakers |
| This session will examine how cities can leverage spatial data, mapping, and analytical tools to support evidence-based planning and prioritization of GI investments.
| European Space Agency
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10:45-11:00
| Coffee Break
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11:00-12:30 (90 min) | Session 5. Leveraging GI Systems for Nature-Cultural Tourism and Local Economic Development | Speakers |
| This session will focus on how GI systems can be leveraged to generate economic value through nature-based and cultural tourism. It will explore how cities can design integrated, place-based tourism strategies that connect ecological networks with cultural assets, support local livelihoods, and enhance city competitiveness.
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Nature-based Tourism Framing: World Bank and UNESCO
Case studies: Rwanda – Kigali GEF or World Bank Participating City |
12:30-13:30 | Lunch Break ) | SPEAKERS |
13:30-15:00 (90 min) | Session 6. Developing Low-Impact Nature-Cultural Tourism Products and Experiences
| Speakers |
| This session will build on the previous discussion by focusing on the design and implementation of scalable, low-impact tourism products. It will cover approaches for creating place-based experiences, integrating local communities and economic activities, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
| Leveraging Cultural & Natural Assets for Inclusive & Sustainable Tourism Development
Urban Regeneration for Tourism
Case studies: Uzbekistan (UNESCO) Seoul |
15:00-15:15 | Coffee Break | |
15:15-17:00
| Site Visit
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| Locations to be confirmed |
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Day 3 – Wednesday, June 3
9:00-13:00
| GEF-8 SCIP Integrated learning sessions |
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| This segment will connect the Academy to the broader GEF Assembly through joint learning sessions with Integrated Approach Programs, providing an opportunity to share experiences and draw cross-program lessons. [LINK]
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13:00-14:00 | Lunch Break |
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14:00-17:00 (180 MIN) | City Action Plans and Next Steps | Speakers |
| This session will serve as the main synthesis and output-oriented segment of the Academy. Cities will present their emerging priorities, including key GI interventions, enabling actions (policy, institutional, technical), and initial financing and partnership pathways. The session will help consolidate learning into actionable next steps and identify areas for continued support.
| City Representatives |
17:00-17:20 (20 MIN) | Closing Session | Speakers |
| The closing session will summarize key insights, highlight opportunities for continued collaboration, and outline next steps across the SCIP portfolio. | Ming Zhang, Global Director, Urban, Sub-national financing and Disaster Management |
