WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities
Transformative projects, igniting citywide change.
Cities change every day, but as urbanization accelerates, incremental change is not enough to put cities on track for sustainability, equity and prosperity. In many places, we need transformation. From our work around the world, we know significant, positive, lasting change is possible. But too often these efforts are not celebrated for their achievements.
The WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities is a global award celebrating and spotlighting transformative urban change. The Prize for Cities seeks to inspire urban change-makers by elevating trailblazing initiatives and telling impactful stories of sustainable urban transformation.
Businesses, NGOs, community groups, local governments and collaborations of all types of organizations and individuals from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors are welcome to apply.
Explore 2023-2024 Finalists & Submissions
2023-2024 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities
Our window to limit global warming to 1.5°C is closing. This Prize cycle invites submissions from initiatives and projects addressing the magnitude of challenges caused by a changing climate by increasing the scale, speed or scope of action to create inclusive, climate-ready cities.
One grand prize winner receives a cash prize of $250,000. Four runners-up receive $25,000 each.
The grand prize winner is selected by an independent jury of leading urban visionaries and practitioners from a shortlist of finalists. This shortlist is the result of a multi-round evaluation in which submissions are assessed according to set criteria and a rating scale by WRI’s evaluation team.
Each received submission goes through an initial screening process that assesses completeness and whether the submission meets basic criteria for consideration. Responsive submissions are passed on to an evaluation team of WRI’s global experts. Evaluators apply criteria and a rating scale according to evidence of big ideas, deep impact, and ripple effects that extend to the entire city and beyond. Evaluators also apply a qualitative lens to assess submissions based on their responsiveness to the cycle’s theme. The methodology was developed specifically for the Prize for Cities.
Five finalists are selected based on a deep understanding of the transformative impact of the initiatives and teams behind the submissions. In the months following the finalist selection, WRI evaluators speak to project teams, partners, residents, businesses and other organizations and experts to validate the transformation on the ground.
Our independent jury of leaders in architecture, community empowerment, development, finance, mobility and real estate select one of the finalists to be elevated as the grand prize winner. Rooted in our desire to inspire change and connect with the world we live in, we ask them to consider which of the finalists resonates most with them, as a symbol of transformative possibility right now.
Sharing Lessons on Transformational Change
We work to share the unique insights gained from Prize finalists and winners, as well as the hundreds of project submissions received from around the globe each cycle, through a variety of channels.
Learnings from these extraordinary examples of transformational change have informed the research agenda of WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities as well our on-the-ground activities in hundreds of cities, technical and capacity building efforts, data tools, and more.
During the 2023-2024 cycle, we launched a partnership with the Yale University Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability to drive continued innovation and excellence in urban sustainability. This dynamic collaboration merges Yale's academic rigor with WRI's extensive local and global network to explore further insights on what drives urban transformation.
Finalists from the 2023-2024 Prize cycle appear as case studies in the Hixon Center's four Practitioner Toolboxes (Built Environment, Climate Ready City, Green City, Healthy City), a collection of resources providing cities with the latest interdisciplinary research to enhance the well-being of residents and overall quality of life.
Case studies include:
Insights from Prize Winners
A Community Program Is Transforming New York Schoolyards into Climate-Resilient Spaces
Insights September 3, 2024
Empowering Residents Helped Buenos Aires Transform Rodrigo Bueno Into a Climate-Resilient Community
Insights August 15, 2024
Inclusive Design Creates a Safer Transportation System for All Residents of Peshawar, Pakistan
Insights January 19, 2023
Todos al Parque shows that inclusive investment in safe, green, healthy public spaces is an effective strategy for developing the economy, empowering marginalized groups, and building trust in public institutions.
An urban agriculture program designed to improve food security for low-income residents now improves resilience to extreme weather events and reduces carbon emissions.
Congratulations to Amend’s School Area Road Safety Assessments and Improvements (SARSAI). Based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, SARSAI won the inaugural Prize for Cities in April 2019.
