Training of Trainers on Making Cities Resilient: Developing and Implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plans

Main Organizers

• European Union
• UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Office in Incheon for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Arab States
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Asia and Pacific

Background and Introduction

Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and much more. At their best, cities have enabled people to advance socially and economically. Yet now that half of the world’s population live in cities, making sustainable and resilient cities - amidst a changing climate, rapidly depleting resources, and unplanned urbanization - is one of our greatest challenges and opportunities.

The engagement of cities and local authorities has been at the forefront of discussion in many of the global forums including the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in March 2015 when 187 UN member states adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 – the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction (DRR). Cities are key to tackling local risks and it is highly encouraged for cities to build resilience through sustainable and inclusive development – development that addresses the root causes of existing risks and prevents the creation of new ones.

To support the local governments in reducing risk, addressing sustainable development challenges, and to achieve target ‘e’ of the Sendai Framework and indicator 11b of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the European Commission have engaged in a three-year initiative “Making cities sustainable and resilient: implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the local level” . This initiative aims to support 20 high risk cities globally to develop and facilitate the implementation of disaster risk reduction and resilience plans by Q1/2019. The cities include: Kampala, Uganda; Dire-Dawa, Ethiopia; Kisumu, Kenya; Yaounde, Cameroon; Praia, Cape Verde; Khartoum, Republic of Sudan; Ismaliya Governorate, Egypt; Nablus, Palestine; Nouakchott, Mauritania; Honiara, Solomon Islands; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Kathmandu City, Nepal; Dhaka North City Cooperation, Bangladesh; Cilacap Regency, Indonesia; Mawlamyine, Myanmar; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Guayaquil, Ecuador; San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru; Guatemala City, Guatemala; and Santo Domingo Esto, Republica Dominicanna.

Building on the current efforts in these local governments and collaboration with various stakeholders, this initiative will support in the development and implementation of risk-informed development plans, with a direct correlation to increased capacity in risk management and monitoring for improved public services to communities. Capacity of beneficiary cities and key stakeholders is instrumental to the success of this initiative. A Training of Trainers on “Making Cities Resilient: Developing and Implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plans” will therefore be organized on 23-26 January 2018 at the UNDRR-GETI training center in Incheon, Republic of Korea.

This workshop aims to:

• Provide an overview on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and its linkage to Sustainable Development Goals: from the global framework to local implementation
• Share useful tools for cities in self-assessing their resilience including the New Ten Essentials, Quick Risk Estimation tool and Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities
• Introduce a step-by-step guide to the development of local loss database for resilience planning
• Practice the development of disaster risk reduction and resilience action plan
• Exchange experiences and build connections towards city-to-city collaboration in resilience building among participating cities, partners and stakeholders

Expected Outcomes:

• Beneficiary cities and partners have enhanced understanding and equipped with tools for developing local disaster loss database and DRR and resilience action plans
• Network among beneficiary cities, partners and stakeholder strengthened to complement the development and implementation of DRR and resilience action plans
• Work-plan and timeline agreed upon

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