The ‘How-To-FITE’ initiative is a practitioners exchange and learning series for the Middle East/ North Africa, Europe, and Central Asia regions seeking to put policy into action through technology acquisition, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It comprises a series of cross-regional Innovation Forums, Study Tours, and Knowledge Notes that let World Bank counterparts, practitioners, and experts in the field collaborate on solutions using knowledge from the latest research.

This year's conference, “Innovative Cities: Funding Innovative Solutions to Access Essential Goods and Services” will be co-hosted by the World Bank’s Finance and Markets, Trade and Competitiveness, and Sustainable Social Urban and Resilience Global Practices, in partnership with the Izmir Development Agency (IDA), under the theme Innovative Cities: Funding Innovative Solutions to Access Essential Goods and Services. The focus will be on investing in and financing innovative solutions in delivering low-cost essential services, goods and infrastructure in dense areas. The 2-day workshop will take place June 3 - 4, 2015 at the Dokuz Eylul University, in Izmir, followed by an option to join a Study Tour of Izmir’s ecosystem infrastructure and programs organized by the Izmir Development Agency (IDA) on June 5th.