EU and UNDP announce open calls of the M4EG for urban municipalities in Azerbaijan

48 Azerbaijani municipalities united in the Mayors for Economic Growth Facility (M4EG) network are invited to participate in the Annual Portfolio Call for Interests and Annual Innovation Call for Proposals, which will offer grant opportunities of EUR 60,000 for the selected municipalities. The programme is an integral part of the new regional Mayors for Economic Growth Facility (M4EG), launched on 14th of March 2022 by the European Union in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Focused on intermediate cities in the Eastern Partnership countries, the programme offers learning and knowledge exchange on the development of innovative growth strategies adapted to the local context. The EU and UNDP will support the municipalities in developing a new generation of local economic development plans (LEDPs), promoting strategic thinking, and building urban resilience.

The current stage of the M4EG Facility assists the municipalities to address radical uncertainty emerging from the pandemic crisis and discover new opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth and economic prosperity. Working closely with local authorities and communities, the programme explores innovative approaches to development and seeks new ways to expand its network.

Both Annual Portfolio Call for Interests and Annual Innovation Call for Proposals will be closed on the 30th of June 2022. Maximum two municipalities will be selected to experiment and pilot portfolio design – an approach combining learning, capabilities, resources, and experimentation that together bring about transformative change. The other finalist municipalities will be invited to apply project proposals for the annual Innovation Call – City Make-Over: Reimagining City Life.