At the core of REframe are the so-called References—project-specific impact goals that each team defines for itself. They provide a clear framework while still allowing enough flexibility to reflect the unique context of each project. Developed collaboratively, ideally involving all project members, these References help align expectations, activities, and priorities, creating a shared understanding of what the project aims to achieve and how to get there. The outcome of this process is a “Reference Picture,” a visual overview that shows both the goals and the Achievements that demonstrate their progress.

In large programmes with numerous individual projects, such as SURE, it can be helpful to identify common themes that provide a shared direction for the work. In SURE, these common themes are referred to as Focus Topics and guide the collective effort towards sustainable urban regions. Each project’s individual goals, or References, contribute to one or more of these Focus Topics. As the projects progress, their collective impact on these overarching Focus Topics grows, bolstered by cross-sectoral cooperation and synergies that advance the common goal of sustainable urban development.

By aligning their efforts with the common Focus Topics, SURE projects ensure that their work contributes to the overall initiative while, at the same time, the contributions of these projects will also support the achievement of broader global agendas, such as the SDGs. Below, the joint Reference Picture for the SURE projects is shown. For examples of Reference Pictures from individual SURE projects and their application, see Part 2 of the publication “Navigating Urban Development: Learnings from East-and Southeast Asia”.