Work Package 7, led by University of Malta, targets the development of a KPI-based toolkit and roadmap for the implementation of NBS interventions.

Specifically, within WP7, T7.4 was about creating a Replication Toolkit that distills the VARCITIES approach into clear, practical, and strategic guidelines so other cities and stakeholders can replicate its Visionary Solutions in their own contexts. It draws directly on the project’s evaluation results, lessons learned, impacts, and best practices, and tailors them to different local conditions. D7.4 is the final output of this task.

Task 7.3 synthesised data across evaluations through a systematic review and extrapolated findings. This Deliverable synthesises all evaluation data from the VARCITIES project into a final assessment of its impacts, recommendations, and lessons learned.

Executive Summary

The VARCITIES Replication Toolkit was created to support city administrators, planners, and other stakeholders in adopting and adapting the project’s Visionary Solutions (VSs)—integrated approaches that combine nature-based, digital, social, and cultural elements to improve urban health, well-being, and resilience. Drawing from the experiences of the seven VARCITIES pilot cities, the Toolkit provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap for implementation, outlining the context, processes, and expected impacts of each VS. By linking every VS to its measured outcomes, it enables prospective replicators to select and adapt solutions most relevant to their local needs and conditions.

The Toolkit is both a practical guide and a strategic resource, offering detailed Replication Roadmaps, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and adaptation guidelines. It distills the co-creation approach at the heart of VARCITIES, showing how local governments, researchers, businesses, and communities can collaborate to design and deliver solutions that address shared urban challenges. Through user-friendly checklists, timelines, and recommendations, the Toolkit explains the who, what, when, and how of each VS, ensuring knowledge from the pilot sites is structured, transferable, and ready for reuse.

As cities worldwide grapple with climate change, health inequalities, and the demand for more liveable public spaces, the VARCITIES Replication Toolkit offers a proven framework to replicate what works without “reinventing the wheel.” It includes city-by-city summaries of lessons learned, best practices, synergies, and trade-offs, alongside minimum requirements for replication. Each roadmap is supported by a Theory of Change that maps the pathway from inputs to outcomes, giving practitioners a clear understanding of both the process and the expected results. In doing so, the Toolkit transforms pilot experiences into a scalable and adaptable blueprint for building healthier, greener, and more resilient cities.