Urban Act Indonesia, done by ESCAP, organized the ‘Investment Project Identification for Municipal Solid Waste Management’ workshop in Padang (October 10–11, 2024) and Medan (October 24–25, 2024). The workshop aimed to identify investment-ready waste management projects and gather key data to strengthen their financing prospects through mechanisms like the City Climate Gap Fund. By selecting viable projects, it laid the foundation for pre-feasibility studies, creating pathways to broader funding opportunities for both cities. 

As part of Urban Act’s Output 3, which focuses on climate actions in pilot cities, the workshop built on insights from a regional training held in Bangkok in June 2024, where Padang and Medan prioritized municipal solid waste management. The event gathered 67 participants, including representatives from city governments (Regional Development Planning Agency, Environmental Agency, and Public Works and Housing Agency), private sector actors, academics, and waste management groups. 

Key outcomes included Padang’s focus on enhancing waste segregation and resource recovery, while Medan prioritized developing community-based waste management infrastructure, such as TPS3R facilities, maggot centers, and recycling hubs. These initiatives will be showcased at the Urban Act climate finance training during the World Urban Forum (WUF12), further advancing the cities’ preparedness to secure future investment.