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Introduction: why Generation Restoration?

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) is a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature.

Co-led by UNEP and FAO, the Decade aims to halt the degradation of ecosystems and restore them to achieve global goals.

It ends in 2030, the deadline for the SDGs and the timeline scientists identified as the last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Over three years (2023-25), the project will implement a package of measures to address selected political, technical, financial challenges to promote restoration at scale, particularly in urban areas, within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Global Biodiversity Framework.

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Overview of City Support Provided

Advocate for the restoration of urban and peri-urban ecosystems, across ecosystem types

Promote importance of NbS in and around cities, to deliver on climate and biodiversity

Support trainings & knowledge exchange between cities on best practices for ecosystem restoration

Develop guidance and knowledge products for restoration for local governments

Provide expert guidance from UNEP experts on best practices for ecosystem restoration

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Timeline & Planned Activities 2023-25

July-August 2023

Role Model and Pilot Cities Selection

In-person City Experts Training (1/2) in Paris, France

September 2023

1^st Event & Ecosystem Summary: Why Urban Ecosystem Restoration?

[project launch]

December 2023

March-June 2023

Pilot and Role Model Cities Outreach

October 2023

2^nd Event & Ecosystem Summary: Forests

[cities announcement]

at 2^nd World Forum on Urban Forests

Q2 2024

Q2 2025

7^th Event & Summary: Freshwaters

Project ends

Q3 2025

8^th Event and Summary: Lessons learned from the project

Q4 2025

Q1 2024

Q4 2024

Q3 2024

Development of baseline assessments for 8 pilot cities

Q1 2025

In-person City Experts Training

(2/2)

3^rd Event & Summary: Coastal & Oceans Ecosystems

4^th Event & Summary: Wetlands and Peatlands

5^th Event & Summary: Farmlands

6^th Event & Summary: Grasslands, Shrublands, Savannahs

Development of investment guidelines for 8 pilot cities

5 Twinning events for role model & pilot cities [scope and modality to be defined in consultation with cities]

Database development for NbS investments [scope, data points and modality under discussion with key partners]

December 2022

Project Announcement at COP15 & Engagement with champion Mayors

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#GenerationRestoration Cities

5-10 Role Model Cities will help drive engagement and serve as champions of restoration.

8 Pilot Cities that will be selected for project funded catalytic grants to make the case, develop innovative policy approaches, and initiate implementation of NbS in their cities.

🡪 Cities can have a dual role of pilot and role model cities, if they can demonstrate existing action and need for additional support on specific activities

Project Partners

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#GenerationRestoration Role Model Cities

WHAT WE ASK

Political will and commitment to the project’s objectives until September 2025.
Participation to 2 in-person capacity building workshops, webinars, peer-to-peer exchanges.
Contribution to the development of tools & products to help cities accelerate ecosystem restoration.

WHAT WE OFFER

Technical assistance, guidance and advice from ecosystem restoration experts at UNEP and beyond.
Matchmaking opportunities with donors, funders and wide community of experts for NbS implementation.
Visibility as part of the communication and advocacy campaigns of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Support in the application to become a World Restoration Flagship under the UN Decade.

HOW TO BECOME A ROLE MODEL CITY

Reach out to UNEP and ICLEI to share your interest, we will set up a meeting to discuss
Provide concrete demonstration of support to the project

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WHAT WE ASK

Political will and commitment to the project’s objectives until September 2025.
Participation to 2 in-person capacity building workshops, webinars, peer-to-peer exchanges.
Contribution to the development of tools & products to help cities accelerate ecosystem restoration.

ELIGIBILITY

Governments, municipalities and their implementation partners for cities located in ODA eligible countries.
Successful proposals must highlight the potential of implementation grants to help bring these existing efforts to scale and/or enhance ongoing initiatives.
UNEP, FAO and ICLEI offices are not eligible.

WHAT WE OFFER

Implementation grants between USD 50,000 and 100,000 in total for the duration of the project (not one each year)
Technical assistance and expert advice from ecosystem restoration experts.
Support in developing an investment pipeline for urban nature-based solution projects.
Matchmaking opportunities with donors, funders and wide community of experts.
Visibility as part of the communication campaigns of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

#GenerationRestoration Pilot Cities (1)

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#GenerationRestoration Pilot Cities (2)

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SUBMIT BY 30 JUNE?

Filled Project Proposal Template
Filled Budget Proposal Template
Letter of Support from Mayor or City Officials mandated to sign on behalf of the Mayor/City Council

WHAT KIND OF PILOTS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Proposed projects must focus on supporting the implementation of nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches aiming to help address the triple planetary crisis of nature loss, climate change and pollution.
Successful proposals should align with global principles, including Target 12 of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Cities that want to be both pilot and role model cities need to follow the pilot cities submission process.

Forms currently available in English, French and Spanish.

Need the forms in another language? Please write to irene.fagotto@un.org

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WHO CAN APPLY TO BE A PILOT CITY?

Municipalities, sub-national governments, districts, counties, individually and in (small) groups can apply
Applications including multiple cities are welcome, but need to describe how the cities are working together and why there is a joint application. One pilot application = one pilot = one grant.
We only 8 pilots to select, so there will be competition. If the cities are close by and are willing to work together, they can also merged into one pilot.
Applicants must commit to projects’ objectives AND is willing to implement NbS at urban level
Pilot cities must be located in countries that are in the list of ODA eligible countries. You can find full list of ODA eligible countries here: https://tinyurl.com/ODAcountries
If the city is not within this list of countries, you are not eligible to be a pilot, but you can be a role model
Any city of any dimension & any ecosystem is welcome to apply (we will favor diversity in our selection)
We are primarily looking at collaborating with cities, but third-party organizations are allowed to apply on behalf of a city if they are working in close collaboration with the administration of that city AND can prove it through a signed letter by the Mayor/City Council/Governor.
UN Agencies can apply with cities, but administrative requirements might be more complex.
All third party applicants need to justify why they are best placed to receive the money instead of the city

HOW TO APPLY?

Please send filled budget template, filled project submission and letter of support from the Mayor/City Council/Governor to irene.fagotto@un.org by June 30.

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#GenerationRestoration Cities: FAQs

WHAT DO WE MEAN WITH “URBAN ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION”?

We seek to support ecosystem restoration efforts rather than greening projects or hybrid solutions.
We refer to the principles defined by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

For examples of urban nature-based solutions, please visit: Smart, Sustainable and Resilient cities: the Power of Nature-based Solutions | UNEP - UN Environment Programme
We are not strict with the concept of “urban” nature, and we also understand that each city/country has different geographies and administrative boundaries.
We accept pilot project proposals that include areas located within city jurisdictional boundaries including in the outskirts of the urban (built up) area of the city, if they are part of the greater urban area that the city is responsible for. Important is that the city manages/has jurisdiction on these areas or partners with the relevant nearby city jurisdiction.

WHO CAN APPLY TO BE A ROLE MODEL CITY? HOW TO APPLY?

Any city that can provide support to the project’s objectives until Sept 2025 AND has implemented NbS
No formal application process, just send an email expressing your interest to irene.fagotto@un.org
Role model cities DO NOT GET financial support from the project.

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#GenerationRestoration Cities: FAQs

WHAT CAN BE PART OF THE BUDGET?

All costs inserted in the template need to be highly relevant to the proposed activities, which need to be about NbS implementation and ecosystem restoration in the city, and specific in their description. Co-financing is encouraged.

Overhead / indirect costs / headquarter costs:

Not allowed, every cost needs to be specified in the budget. No “blanket cost” allowed.
Instead you can, for example, budget for % of staff time or % of space of an office used for the project.

Equipment:

Can be in the budget if highly relevant for the project and needed for the implementation of proposed activities.
The use of each piece of equipment needs to be described in relation to the proposed activities.
Equipment could be for activities and also for operational purposes under the project.
Equipment should not be more than 20% of the overall proposed budget.
Procurement of equipment should be reflected under 'Contractual Services' or 'Supplies' in the budget.
Any (office) equipment for operational usage (including equipment for office use by the staff engaged for the project) should be charged under 'other operational costs'.

Staff time: No need to provide time sheets but you are requested to keep a record in case you are selected for a financial audit.

Travel to in-person workshops: should be included in the costs and budget under the pilot grant.

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Engaging beyond Generation Restoration:

Urban Nature Restoration Platform

To spread knowledge, share tools, and build capacity on how to mainstream ecosystem restoration activities and nature-based thinking into city management and planning practices, as well as to increase advocacy around the return-on-investment in nature-based solutions and make the business case for restoration.

By 2030:

identify and involve at least 100 champion cities through educational high-level modules and city-to-city learning exchanges
20 cities from this cohort will be encouraged and given guidance on how to apply to have their projects or urban area become World Restoration Flagships

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