Cities Alliance
Cities Alliance is a UNOPS-hosted global partnership of 24 governments, local authority networks, civil society, and multilaterals that fights urban poverty and supports sustainable city development in secondary cities across 40+ countries through grants, knowledge products, and the City Development Strategy toolkit.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cities Alliance does
Cities Alliance is a global membership-based partnership organization established in 1999 to address urban poverty and support sustainable city development, particularly in secondary cities in developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, which serves as the institutional Host and Trustee of the partnership's multi-donor fund, it is governed by an Assembly, a Management Board chaired by Professor Thuli Madonsela, and a Secretariat led by Director Dr. Greg Munro. The organization brings together 24 member organizations spanning national governments (France, Germany, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, United States), local authority networks (C40, ICLEI, Metropolis, UCLG, CLGF), civil society (Habitat for Humanity, SDI, WIEGO, IIED, AVSI, IHS, Reall), and multilateral bodies (World Bank, UN Habitat, UNICEF, UNCDF, European Commission).
Cities Alliance delivers its mandate through three operational hubs (Brussels HQ, Nairobi Africa Hub, Bangkok Asia Hub) and country/regional programmes in more than 40 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Its core products are programmatic rather than software-based: the City Development Strategy (CDS) toolkit (supporting 250+ CDS globally), the Knowledge Library of publications and reports, the Innovation Programme (micro and small grants for urban solutions), Global Programmes on Climate Change Resilience, Cities and Migration, Gender Equality, and Informality and Basic Services, country and regional initiatives, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks for results reporting. Notable initiatives include the Ethiopia Urban Expansion Programme (18 cities, 500+ km of arterial roads with NYU's Marron Institute), the Cities 4 Women Nepal project (seven municipalities, 2023-2027, with EU, Finland, and USAID co-funding), and the SDC-funded Global Resilient Systems of Secondary Cities and Migration Dynamics work (2018-2026). Documented outcomes include a vision to reach 60 million urban poor across 200 cities in 20 countries by 2030.
The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: the multi-donor fund and member contributions finance the partnership's operational budget, with no published pricing or commercial revenue streams. Customers/beneficiaries span national and local governments (Uganda, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Haiti), urban poor communities, and civil society organizations. Marketing and distribution rely on the corporate website, social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), newsletters, knowledge publications, and high-profile convening at the World Urban Forum, COP events, the Africa Urban Forum, and the annual Cities Alliance Assembly. In May 2024, Maria Fernanda Espinosa was elected President of the Assembly in Naivasha, Kenya, marking 25 years of operation.
Cities Alliance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cities Alliance
- Legal name
- Cities Alliance
- Website
- https://citiesalliance.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cities Alliance is a UNOPS-hosted global partnership of 24 governments, local authority networks, civil society, and multilaterals that fights urban poverty and supports sustainable city development in secondary cities across 40+ countries through grants, knowledge products, and the City Development Strategy toolkit.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cities Alliance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Urban Development Partnership Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), International Affairs (9721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ), United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)
Keywords
Where Cities Alliance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Cities Alliance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Multi-donor fund contributions: Cities Alliance operates a multi-donor fund with UNOPS as host and Trustee. Member countries and organizations contribute to financing the fund, which supports the organization's urban poverty reduction and sustainable city development activities worldwide.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cities Alliance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cities Alliance is a global membership-based partnership (hosted by UNOPS) that supports cities in fighting urban poverty and delivering sustainable development. It operates through country programmes, regional initiatives, and global thematic programmes, providing strategic planning support, capacity building, grant-based innovation funding, and knowledge products (publications, toolkits, and the City Development Strategy methodology) to national and local governments, civil society organizations, and multilateral partners in developing countries.
Product overview
Cities Alliance is a global membership-based partnership organization (hosted by UNOPS) focused on fighting urban poverty and supporting sustainable city development. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather provides a portfolio of interconnected services including knowledge products, grant programmes, and strategic planning tools. Key offerings include the Knowledge Library (publications and reports on urban topics), the Innovation Programme (grants for innovative urban solutions), the City Development Strategy (CDS) Toolkit (a strategic planning methodology), Country and Regional Programmes (long-term programmatic approaches in developing regions), Global Programmes on themes like climate change, migration, and gender equality, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning frameworks. Cities Alliance operates through a multi-donor fund with 24 member organizations providing strategic direction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cities Alliance Knowledge Library A digital knowledge repository providing access to publications, reports, audiovisual materials, and resources on urban-related topics including climate change, digital solutions, equitable economic growth, gender equality, housing, migration, and slum upgrading, used by researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers working on urban development.
- Publications and Reports Annual reports and thematic publications documenting Cities Alliance's work on urban poverty, slum upgrading, secondary cities, strategic city planning, climate change, migration, and gender equality.
- Innovation Programme A grant-based programme supporting innovative partnerships and approaches in cities through micro and small grants, focusing on new technologies and collaborative data initiatives to promote inclusive city planning and responsive service delivery.
- City Development Strategy (CDS) Toolkit A strategic urban planning tool that helps cities harness the potential of urbanisation, develop coordinated institutional frameworks, and provide residents with a voice in the future of their cities. Cities Alliance has supported the development of more than 250 CDS across the world.
- Country and Regional Programmes Longer-term programmatic approaches in various regions including Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, designed to improve cooperation among national and local governments, NGOs, urban poor communities, academia and development partners.
- Global Programmes Thematic global programmes covering Climate Change Resilience and Informality, Cities and Migration, Gender Equality, and Informality and Basic Services.
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework Customised Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning frameworks designed for each programme, incorporating quantitative and qualitative indicators to ensure accurate and specific reporting on programme results.
- SUIDAC (Stronger Urban Institutions with Displaced and Host Communities) A feasibility study programme supporting secondary cities in Sub-Saharan Africa, producing city development studies for locations including Borama, Tshikapa (DRC), Assosa (Ethiopia), and Kananga (DRC).
Quantifiable outcome
- 60 million urban poor to be reached across 200 cities in 20 countries by 2030
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cities Alliance
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cities Alliance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cities Alliance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- UNOPS, UN-HabitatflagshipCities 4 Women Nepal project (2023-2027) implemented by UNOPS and UN-Habitat in partnership with Cities Alliance, supporting seven municipalities in Nepal for gender-sensitive climate-resilient urban planning.
- UNOPScoreUNOPS serves as the Host and Trustee of Cities Alliance, managing the multi-donor fund and providing institutional and administrative support. Cities Alliance operates under the governance structure of its Charter with UNOPS hosting the Secretariat.
- FrancecoreGovernment member providing strategic direction and financing contributions to the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund.
- GermanycoreGovernment member providing strategic direction and financing contributions to the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund.
- South AfricacoreGovernment member providing strategic direction and financing contributions to the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund.
- SwedencoreGovernment member providing strategic direction and financing contributions to the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund.
- SwitzerlandcoreGovernment member providing strategic direction and financing contributions to the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund.
- UgandacoreGovernment member providing strategic direction and financing contributions to the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund.
- United StatescoreGovernment member providing strategic direction and financing contributions to the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund.
- C40coreLocal authority member - network of megacities committed to addressing climate change, providing strategic direction and advocacy.
- Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)coreLocal authority member providing strategic direction and advocacy for local government development.
- ICLEI - Local Governments for SustainabilitycoreLocal authority member - global network of local governments dedicated to sustainable development.
- MetropoliscoreLocal authority member - World Association of Metropolis cities providing strategic direction.
- United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)coreLocal authority member - global organization representing and defending the interests of local governments, providing strategic direction and advocacy.
- AVSI FoundationcoreCivil society member providing operational activities and implementation support in various country programmes.
- Habitat For Humanity International (HfHI)coreCivil society member active in slum upgrading and housing programmes, provides operational activities and implementation support.
- IHS, Institute for Housing and Urban Development StudiescoreCivil society member - academic institute providing knowledge and expertise in urban development.
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)coreCivil society member providing research and expertise on environmental and development issues in urban contexts.
- ReallcoreCivil society member organization working on affordable housing solutions in Africa and Asia.
- Slum Dwellers International (SDI)coreCivil society member - federation of slum dwellers organizations providing community engagement and advocacy.
- Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)coreCivil society member focusing on informal employment and workers, particularly women in urban informal settlements.
- European Commission - DG INTPAcoreMultilateral member providing financing and policy direction for international partnerships and development.
- UNICEFcoreMultilateral member providing operational activities and expertise on children and youth in urban contexts.
- UN HabitatcoreMultilateral member - UN agency for human settlements providing normative and operational activities on urban development.
- UNCDFcoreMultilateral member - United Nations Capital Development Fund providing financing expertise for local development.
- World BankcoreMultilateral member providing financing, knowledge, and operational support for urban development programmes worldwide.
- Marron Institute of Urban Management at New York UniversitycoreCollaboration on Ethiopia Urban Expansion Programme (started 2013) to strengthen capacity of Ethiopian cities in preparing for urban expansion.
- Inter-American Development BankcoreCollaboration on award-winning secondary cities book 'Connecting Systems of Secondary Cities' and joint work programme on Habitat III process.
- China Center for Urban DevelopmentcoreCollaboration on Chinese translation of 'Connecting Systems of Secondary Cities' publication.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cities Alliance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- C40 Cities: Network of megacity mayors committed to addressing climate change. C40 is a Cities Alliance member; both convene cities on climate and inclusion, though C40 skews megacity and Cities Alliance skews secondary cities.
- United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG): World organization of local and regional governments advocating for local government interests in global policy. UCLG is a Cities Alliance member and shares membership-based governance and a focus on capacity building for cities in the developing world.
- ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local governments advancing sustainable urban development. ICLEI is a Cities Alliance member and operates overlapping programmes on climate resilience, gender, and inclusive city planning, addressing many of the same municipal counterparts.
- Slum Dwellers International (SDI): Federation of community-led organizations of the urban poor. SDI is a Cities Alliance member and works on the same slum-upgrading and community-led city development themes, often jointly with Cities Alliance country programmes.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit focused on housing and slum upgrading for low-income households. As a Cities Alliance member, it operates in overlapping geographies and shares focus on informal settlements, housing finance, and tenure security.
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED): Policy research organization working on sustainable urban development and climate resilience in the Global South. IIED is a Cities Alliance member and co-produces knowledge products and country programmes on similar themes.
- UN-Habitat: United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development. Operates with a near-identical mandate on urban poverty, slum upgrading, and strategic city planning, and is itself a Cities Alliance member — making it the closest mission-aligned peer.
- Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO): Global network focused on informal workers, particularly women in urban informal settlements. WIEGO is a Cities Alliance member and shares a focus on the urban poor, gender equality, and informal-economy inclusion in cities.
Broad incumbents
- World Bank (Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land Global Practice): Operates large-scale urban development, housing, and infrastructure lending programmes across the same geographies as Cities Alliance. Cities Alliance routinely co-funds World Bank-led initiatives (e.g., Uganda secondary cities), and the two compete for the same donor attention.
- UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services): UN entity that serves as Host and Trustee of the Cities Alliance multi-donor fund. While the parent/host rather than a competitor, UNOPS implements parallel urban infrastructure projects and is the structural backbone for Cities Alliance programme delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cities Alliance social profiles
Digital presenceCities Alliance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cities Alliance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cities Alliance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cities Alliance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cities Alliance
What does Cities Alliance do?
Cities Alliance is a global membership-based partnership (hosted by UNOPS) that supports cities in fighting urban poverty and delivering sustainable development. It operates through country programmes, regional initiatives, and global thematic programmes, providing strategic planning support, capacity building, grant-based innovation funding, and knowledge products (publications, toolkits, and the City Development Strategy methodology) to national and local governments, civil society organizations, and multilateral partners in developing countries.
Is Cities Alliance a public or private company?
Cities Alliance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cities Alliance founded?
Cities Alliance was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cities Alliance based?
Cities Alliance is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Cities Alliance make money?
One revenue line is on record: multi-donor fund contributions.
Who are Cities Alliance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are C40 Cities, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, Slum Dwellers International (SDI), Habitat for Humanity International, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), UN-Habitat and Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO). Broad incumbents are World Bank (Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land Global Practice) and UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services).
Does Cities Alliance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cities Alliance.
What industry is Cities Alliance in?
Cities Alliance's product category is International Urban Development Partnership Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAL, Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure, with a secondary code of BPAGABAL, Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development. Its NAICS code is 81341 and its SIC code is 8600.