The Step Up Team facilitated the first roving workshop of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), titled “From Ideas to Proposals: Workshop on Developing Climate Finance Concept Notes for Local Government Units (LGUs)”, held from 15 to 17 September 2025 in Panglao, Bohol.

The three-day activity was organised by technical officers, planners, finance personnel, and environmental staff from Urban-Act pilot cities to enhance their capacity to design and package climate-focused projects into funder-ready, results-based concept notes. The workshop is part of the Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) Project, implemented by ICSC in partnership with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and Clean Air Asia.

Representatives from the pilot cities of Antipolo, Bacolod, and Tagbilaran took part in the training, which seeks to improve the ability of LGUs to convert climate action priorities into structured project proposals that are aligned with national policies and international climate finance mechanisms.

The activity concentrated on water sufficiency, water security, and nature-based solutions as part of the Urban-Act Project’s Work Package on Project Concept Development. A participatory and practical approach was used, combining technical inputs, group work, peer review, and facilitated discussions on climate rationale, results-based planning, budgeting, and gender and social inclusion.

At the end of the workshop, each participating LGU produced a draft climate project concept note, complete with a results framework, indicative budget, and preliminary financing strategy. The outputs will be further refined through post-training mentoring and validation workshops in preparation for potential submission to climate finance facilities such as the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).