What is SURGE?
SURGE is a Global Umbrella Program that supports projects in developing countries focused on green, resilient and inclusive urban and regional development. It is a multi-donor trust fund of which the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is the founding donor, and the recent new donors -- Austria’s Ministry of Finance, and Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT).
Currently, SURGE comprises six Trust Funds: the anchor Trust Fund contributing to sustainable urban and regional development globally and five associated country trust funds focusing on Bolivia, Indonesia (coming soon), Peru, Serbia, and South Africa. Its combined budget stands at close to US$50 million.
SURGE’s overarching development objective it to enable cities and regions in developing countries to function as drivers of sustainable and inclusive economic development. Early results show that SURGE strengthens capacity and creates knowledge that help city leaders and stakeholders in their urban policy and investment decision-making. Activities financed by SURGE support governments of developing countries at different levels to help them strengthen and prioritize their investment portfolios. The program also supports mobilization of additional resources.
Why SURGE?
Cities are on the frontlines of combating multiple crises. Pandemics, climate change impacts, economic downturns, and violent crimes all concentrate in urban areas. At the same time, cities are economic powerhouses to which people move to seek greater wellbeing. By 2050, nearly 7 of 10 people globally are expected to live in urban areas. To accrue the benefits of urbanization and avoid negative social, economic, and environmental outcomes, governments must plan and manage this demographic shift wisely. Unfortunately, many developing countries lack the capacity to plan for sustainable and inclusive city development. The World Bank established the Sustainable Urban and Regional Development (SURGE) Umbrella Program in 2020 as its central collaboration instrument for working with partners on building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities in developing countries.
The World Bank invites partners to join SURGE and together work towards sustainable and inclusive urban development globally.
