SURGE

The Sustainable Urban and Regional Development Program (SURGE) is a global umbrella program that supports developing countries to foster green, resilient and inclusive urban and regional development.

SURGE is supported by multiple donors. Its founding donor is the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Additional donors include: Austria’s Ministry of Finance, the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Korean Research Institute for Human Settlements. 

SURGE is composed of six trust funds: an anchor trust fund contributing to sustainable urban and regional development globally, under which three global, one regional, and one country program (Rwanda) are funded, and five associated country trust funds focused on Bolivia, Indonesia, Peru, Serbia, and South Africa. Its combined budget stands at over US$57.5 million.

Key Results

One of the key findings of the recent SURGE evaluation is that the program’s emphasis on knowledge generation and exchange has enabled greater engagement with clients. Since its launch, the program has empowered cities across more than 16 countries, driving US$2.6 billion in World Bank investments and transforming urban spaces into engines of sustainable development. 

Spotlight on Global Deep Dive Reports 

The UA&TA program conducted three analytic, evidence-based deep dive studies using innovative methodologies to inform policy. The first, “Pancakes to Pyramids (P2P) — City Form for Sustainable Growth”, examined the shape and growth of nearly 10,000 cities from 1990 to 2015. The second, “Mobilizing Finance through Anticipating the Economic Impact of Urban Infrastructure” , explored how urban infrastructure can drive economic growth and local development. The final study, the Vibrant Cities report, provides new evidence, analysis, and policy insights for green, resilient, and inclusive urban development, leveraging spatial urban planning and public economics. All three reports have been actively adopted influencing policy decisions and guiding practical applications. The main achievements include:

The technical deep dives have established a strong foundation for evidence-based decision-making in urban planning and finance. These studies have advanced global knowledge of urbanization and led to tools and policy frameworks for decision-makers. For example, the "Vibrant Cities" report provided strategies to improve city performance, promote private sector growth, and create jobs through better planning, connectivity, and governance. This research has informed the development of a spatial strategy and the preparation of a smart and inclusive urban mobility investment in Amman in 2024. 

The deep dive studies have introduced innovative methodologies applicable in various city and country contexts. For instance, the P2P material was used for the development of the Urbanization and Territorial Review of the Dominican Republic. It also informed Angola's urbanization review, recommending that economic development integrate planning, infrastructure, housing, and address economic or industrial drivers. The methodologies for estimating the economic impacts of urban investments presented in the 'Mobilizing Finance' report have sparked interest among several local governments in India and South Africa for integrated land use investments. Stakeholder engagement during research and dissemination process of the deep dive reports has strengthened collaboration and partnerships with relevant local actors.