A distinctive feature of the 2007 work programme was the fact that direct project beneficiaries (cities and local government associations) received the Cities Alliance grant funds for nearly half of the approved activities. For the remaining projects, a Cities Alliance member executed the funding on behalf of beneficiaries. During the first eight years of Alliance operations, less than 20 percent of Cities Alliance projects were directly executed by cities or their local development partners. The upward trend reflects the Cities Alliance increased preference for client execution of Cities Alliance grant funds.

In fiscal 2007, Cities Alliance members sponsored 18 new city development strategy and slum upgrading projects as part of the $10.1 million work programme. More than $13 million was disbursed during the year for new and ongoing activities. As of 30 June 2007, $54.1 million was committed to 83 active projects. Of the 18 new project approvals, half—five in Sub-Saharan Africa and four in Asia—were $75,000 or less to support small cities in undertaking the research necessary to design proposals for future urban development and slum upgrading activities.

Source: Cities Alliance