World Bank Targets Urban Resilience in Türkiye with €191.5 Million Loan

Antalya and Konya will serve as the testing grounds for a €191.5 million World Bank initiative aimed at modernizing municipal infrastructure. The project seeks to mitigate the strain of rapid population growth by financing low-emission transport, upgraded water systems, and climate-resilient energy solutions across Turkey’s expanding urban centers.

The Green and Future Cities Project, implemented through İller Bankası A.Ş. (ILBANK), addresses the growing difficulty municipalities face in securing long-term capital for large-scale development. By focusing on essential services, the loan aims to stabilize urban growth while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of public transit and utility networks.

Beyond physical construction, the initiative embeds technical assistance into the funding package. Project Task Team Leader Ahmet Kindap noted that the program is designed to bolster the creditworthiness of local authorities, enabling them to construct better investment pipelines. By improving financial management and institutional capacity, the scheme intends to pave the way for increased private sector participation in future urban projects. The focus remains on building systemic resilience against climate risks like flooding and extreme heat, ensuring that infrastructure remains functional despite increasing environmental pressures.