Learning Session at Africities Summit 9th Edition

Risk Informed Urban Development: Territorial governance schemes for addressing systemic risks in intermediary cities

The race against time to determine solutions to highly complex urban challenges is no more critical than in Africa. Until 2050, 90% of the global urbanization will be experienced in Africa and Asia. Despite Africa’s low contributions to GHG emissions, the continent remains the most vulnerable to hazards e.g. climate change. Africa’s cities, particularly intermediary cities, face exponential growth, unplanned urbanization trends and unfolding vulnerabilities with limited capacities, posing systemic risks to its economies, infrastructure investments, water and food systems, public health, agriculture, and livelihoods; threatening to undo Africa’s cities development gains and unfold new levels of inequality. Despite an increasing understanding of the complexity of risks, incorporating these complexities adequately into development planning is still a prominent issue towards the achievement of the SDG - Agenda 2030 and the Agenda 2063.

 

To address the complex nature of risks and safeguard development gains, Connective Cities and the Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management (GIDRM) established a Working Group on Risk Informed Urban Development (RIUD) with a focus on Africa. The members of the group and other experts contributed during the session through good practices, experiences and recommendations. The cities represented were: Kisumu (Kenya), Quelimane (Mozambique) and eThekwini, Durban (South Africa). The other experts were from Bremen (Germany) and UNDP.

 

Objective

The objective of our contribution at the Africities Summit was to strengthen the dissemination of knowledge and lessons learned on how to integrate risk-informed urban development in intermediary cities and various key sectors and/or value chains.

Program

The session showcased two good practices and was complemented by panelists advocating for sustained investments in urban governance towards achieving resilience to risks and ensuring the sustainability of development.

Presentations

Session content including 2 good practices on:

  1. Lived Experiences, Efforts and Mechanisms Applied for Effective Management of Climate Change Effects and Natural Hazards in Quelimane City-Mozambique- Mr. Manuel de Araujo
     
  2. Enhancing Resilience to Urban Flooding through Drainage and Sanitation Infrastructure: A case of Obunga Informal Settlement in Kisumu City - Mr. Geofrey Ochieng

Download Good Practice presentations [pdf]

Recording 1: Mr. Rajeev Issar; Policy Specialist in Climate Risks and Risk Governance, UNDP

Recording 2: Ms. Silke Goethe; Officer for International and Development Cooperation at the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen  

Session documentation

 

Impressions

All Photos: Connective Cities

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