Municipalities globally are pivotal in delivering essential public services and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, securing adequate resources and funding for these initiatives remains a persistent challenge. This challenge is especially acute for municipalities in secondary cities within the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, which include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG), a joint EU and UNDP initiative, aims to support these local governments in overcoming such challenges. While the initiative has made strides in developing economic plans and transformative projects, the task of attracting sufficient investment remains difficult.

This research aims to identify the primary obstacles municipalities in the EaP face in accessing diverse financial resources and propose solutions and recommendations for tackling these obstacles. The financing research is directly aligned with UNDP's strategic priorities by focusing on enhancing the financial management, resource mobilization, project delivery, and transparency of local governments. It aims to equip municipal officials with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively manage their finances and projects, and in turn, contribute to the achievement of sustainable development at the local level.