Innovating Sustainability: Poland’s Urban Leap in Digital, Green, and PPP Initiatives

The World Bank-supported Cities’ Partnership Initiative empowered 30 Polish cities to develop tailored digital, green, and PPP-based urban solutions, fostering systemic innovation and local capacity. Through collaborative action plans and international learning, it built a resilient network of urban practitioners driving sustainable development.

The final report titled “Sustainable Development of Polish Cities in Areas of Digital, Green Infrastructure and PPP Solutions” is the culmination of a 14-month collaboration under the Cities’ Partnership Initiative (CPI). This ambitious urban development effort brought together the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy (MDFRP), the World Bank, and 30 Polish cities, with significant contributions from leading institutions such as the Digital Poland Projects Centre, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Enterprise Estonia, the Central PPP Unit in Athens, and the Centre for Strategic Advisory (Centrum Doradztwa Strategicznego). Drawing also from the EU’s URBACT framework, the project supported cities of varying sizes, from small towns like Krzywiń and Pilawa to large metropolises such as Łódź and Poznań, in crafting localised solutions for sustainable development. It was a bold experiment in combining local initiative with global guidance, and the results demonstrate how cities can act as testbeds for national urban policy.

Tailored Solutions Through Local Empowerment and National Alignment

At the heart of the CPI were Municipal Action Plans (MAPs), city-specific strategies crafted by each participating municipality. These MAPs tackled a wide range of issues, from waste management inefficiencies to digital infrastructure and urban greening. Structured collaboration within three thematic networks, Digital, Green, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), enabled cities to refine their objectives, supported by World Bank experts and peer cities. This dynamic was further complemented by the development of three Improvement Plans (IPs), which consolidated systemic insights and delivered actionable recommendations for national authorities. The IPs proposed reforms in regulations, institutional structures, and financing mechanisms, aiming to remove structural bottlenecks that often stifle local innovation.

Digital Cities: From Vision to Integration

In the digital network, cities focused on overcoming fragmented information systems and inefficient administrative processes. The goal was to modernize urban management through scalable digital solutions. Cities like Świdnica pioneered the creation of city information architecture (CIA), aligning local data systems with national standards for seamless interoperability. Dębica and Wyszków tackled cost inefficiencies through automated utility management, while Pilawa improved municipal waste fee systems using digital tools. Inspiration also came from beyond Poland. A study visit to Estonia, a global leader in digital governance, was particularly impactful. Polish delegates visited TalTech University, ITS Estonia, and EdTech Estonia to observe the functioning of e-governance platforms, real-time energy dashboards, and smart city solutions. These experiences shaped the MAPs and accelerated the adoption of cutting-edge digital strategies back home. Moreover, cities began developing reference models that could eventually guide other municipalities embarking on similar journeys, thus amplifying the impact beyond the 30 participating urban areas.

PPP as a Catalyst for Urban Investment

With EU grants becoming more limited, the PPP network offered Polish cities a viable alternative to finance long-term urban investments. The participating cities, such as Płock, Poznań, and Dąbrowa Górnicza, explored how to effectively structure partnerships with the private sector. These projects covered a broad range of needs, from building new administrative centers to revamping transport systems. However, the process was not without hurdles. Smaller cities found the costs and complexity of PPP structuring to be particularly daunting. The World Bank stepped in with proposals for clustered projects, especially within functional urban areas, and mechanisms to reduce financing costs through risk-sharing models. A turning point was the study tour to Athens, where Polish participants learned about hybrid PPP models combining EU funds and private capital. Discussions with legal experts, banks, and major firms like Warbud and Hochtief helped debunk persistent myths around PPPs, particularly the notion that they are nontransparent or corruption-prone, and encouraged city officials to see them as credible, manageable instruments for public infrastructure development.

Green Cities: Reclaiming Nature in Urban Spaces

The Green Network focused on nature-based solutions (NBS) and strategic greening as cost-effective responses to climate change and declining urban livability. Participating cities such as Ruda Śląska, Lublin, and Żory tackled issues ranging from urban flooding to loss of biodiversity through initiatives like green corridors, rainwater parks, and small retention facilities. A pivotal influence came from the study visit to Copenhagen and its surrounding cities, where participants observed pioneering practices in integrating green infrastructure with stormwater management. Parks like Enghaveparken and urban districts like Klimakvarter Østerbro served as live case studies in blending aesthetics, resilience, and community function. Polish cities began shifting from ad hoc greening efforts to systematized strategies rooted in ecosystem services. Recommendations from the IP included legal recognition of ecosystem services, improved interdepartmental coordination, and pilot spatial plans focused on green and blue infrastructure. The outcome was a marked evolution in how cities perceived and implemented green interventions, not as decorative afterthoughts, but as foundational elements of sustainable city planning.

Building a Lasting Community of Urban Innovators

Perhaps the most enduring outcome of the CPI is the vibrant network of urban practitioners it fostered. City officials, mayors, planners, and national authorities built strong ties through collaborative learning, site visits, and open exchanges, including the candid sharing of failures. This peer-to-peer model, humorously dubbed “Burmistrz to Burmistrz” (Mayor to Mayor), created a culture of trust and continuous learning that extended well beyond the project’s formal timeline. The final report strongly recommends institutionalizing the CPI as a permanent feature of Polish urban policy, supported by a dedicated CPI Alumni network. Such a structure would not only track the implementation of MAPs but also act as a live forum for updating national strategies based on local feedback. In doing so, Poland’s urban ecosystem could become more resilient, innovative, and inclusive, positioned as a model for sustainable urban development globally.