This document presents a strategy and two-year action plan from the IASC Task Force on Meeting Humanitarian Challenges in Urban Areas to improve humanitarian responses in urban contexts. The strategy identifies six strategic objectives: 1) Developing operational strategies that ensure multi-stakeholder partnerships; 2) Building urban expertise and surge capacity; 3) Adapting tools to urban contexts; 4) Promoting protection of vulnerable groups; 5) Strengthening livelihoods; and 6) Enhancing preparedness among local and national authorities. It notes the increasing proportion of people living in cities, especially in developing countries, and the unique challenges for humanitarian response in urban areas compared to rural settings. The strategy and action plan aim to enhance
The document discusses the World Bank's new Urban and Local Government Strategy. The strategy focuses on five business lines seen as critical for cities over the next decade: (1) strengthening city management, governance and finance; (2) reducing urban poverty and upgrading slums; (3) supporting economic growth in cities; (4) improving urban land, housing and planning; and (5) promoting sustainable and resilient urban environments. The strategy is based on the view that urbanization, if properly managed, can drive economic growth and reduce poverty through agglomeration benefits. It aims to help governments harness the potential of urbanization.
Reducing Urban Risk in Asia- Status Report and Inventory of Initiatives URRworkshop
The document discusses urban risk reduction in Asia. It notes that urbanization is increasing rapidly in developing countries, especially in Asia, where the population living in urban areas is projected to reach 80% by 2020. Recognizing the need to address growing urban risk, the UNISDR established the Asia Regional Task Force on Urban Risk Reduction to facilitate efforts in the region. The task force conducted an analysis of urban risk issues and initiatives in Asia related to the five priorities of the Hyogo Framework for Action. It found that urban risk is increasing due to factors such as rapid urban population growth, especially in South and Southeast Asian countries, and exposure to hazards is exacerbated by uncontrolled development and poor infrastructure in many cities.
Why the National Spatial Strategy failed and prospects for the National Plann...robkitchin
(1) The National Spatial Strategy failed because it tried to promote growth across all areas without selectivity, had too many gateways and hubs, and lacked political and financial support over time.
(2) The National Planning Framework may succeed if it focuses investment and population growth strategically, aligns all government policies and regional strategies, and has clear implementation goals and resources.
(3) For the NPF to be effective, the government must not undermine it through contradictory policies and it needs buy-in from local authorities and politicians. Proper spatial planning can help structure sustainable development and economic growth.
Time to Think Urban UN-Habitat Brochure 2013UN-HABITAT
The document discusses UN-Habitat's work in promoting sustainable urbanization. It focuses on 7 priority areas: urban legislation, land and governance; urban planning and design; urban economy; urban basic services; housing and slum upgrading; risk reduction and rehabilitation; and urban research and capacity development. UN-Habitat aims to guide urbanization, support cities, improve quality of life for all residents including the poor, and reduce poverty through its work in these areas. It provides various programs and initiatives to achieve these goals around the world.
The Regional Development Updates (RDU) is the regular quarterly publication of RDC XII and NEDA XII containing development updates, news, reports and other relevant information on various activities of the Council, Local Government Units, Regional Line Agencies, State Universities and Colleges and Private Sector in the region.
The document discusses citizens' expectations of public services and how governments are responding. Citizens now expect public services to provide choice, convenience, and services that adapt to individual needs, similar to private sector standards. Governments are pursuing initiatives to improve customer service, such as joining up services across organizations and introducing more personalized approaches. New technologies are also enabling new ways for citizens to access services.
Prospects and Challenges for Urban and Metropolitan AdministrationJo Balucanag - Bitonio
The document discusses the challenges and opportunities of urbanization in the Philippines. It notes that urban areas already account for most of the population and economic output, and these figures are projected to continue growing significantly. However, rapid urbanization also risks exacerbating issues like poverty, unemployment, lack of basic services, and environmental degradation if not properly managed. Key challenges include improving competitiveness and job creation, alleviating urban poverty, strengthening urban governance, expanding access to basic services, and managing environmental and population impacts. Strategic approaches recommended include stakeholder partnerships, city development strategies, inter-local cooperation, and treating cities as interconnected ecosystems.
The document discusses the World Bank's new Urban and Local Government Strategy. The strategy focuses on five business lines seen as critical for cities over the next decade: (1) strengthening city management, governance and finance; (2) reducing urban poverty and upgrading slums; (3) supporting economic growth in cities; (4) improving urban land, housing and planning; and (5) promoting sustainable and resilient urban environments. The strategy is based on the view that urbanization, if properly managed, can drive economic growth and reduce poverty through agglomeration benefits. It aims to help governments harness the potential of urbanization.
Reducing Urban Risk in Asia- Status Report and Inventory of Initiatives URRworkshop
The document discusses urban risk reduction in Asia. It notes that urbanization is increasing rapidly in developing countries, especially in Asia, where the population living in urban areas is projected to reach 80% by 2020. Recognizing the need to address growing urban risk, the UNISDR established the Asia Regional Task Force on Urban Risk Reduction to facilitate efforts in the region. The task force conducted an analysis of urban risk issues and initiatives in Asia related to the five priorities of the Hyogo Framework for Action. It found that urban risk is increasing due to factors such as rapid urban population growth, especially in South and Southeast Asian countries, and exposure to hazards is exacerbated by uncontrolled development and poor infrastructure in many cities.
Why the National Spatial Strategy failed and prospects for the National Plann...robkitchin
(1) The National Spatial Strategy failed because it tried to promote growth across all areas without selectivity, had too many gateways and hubs, and lacked political and financial support over time.
(2) The National Planning Framework may succeed if it focuses investment and population growth strategically, aligns all government policies and regional strategies, and has clear implementation goals and resources.
(3) For the NPF to be effective, the government must not undermine it through contradictory policies and it needs buy-in from local authorities and politicians. Proper spatial planning can help structure sustainable development and economic growth.
Time to Think Urban UN-Habitat Brochure 2013UN-HABITAT
The document discusses UN-Habitat's work in promoting sustainable urbanization. It focuses on 7 priority areas: urban legislation, land and governance; urban planning and design; urban economy; urban basic services; housing and slum upgrading; risk reduction and rehabilitation; and urban research and capacity development. UN-Habitat aims to guide urbanization, support cities, improve quality of life for all residents including the poor, and reduce poverty through its work in these areas. It provides various programs and initiatives to achieve these goals around the world.
The Regional Development Updates (RDU) is the regular quarterly publication of RDC XII and NEDA XII containing development updates, news, reports and other relevant information on various activities of the Council, Local Government Units, Regional Line Agencies, State Universities and Colleges and Private Sector in the region.
The document discusses citizens' expectations of public services and how governments are responding. Citizens now expect public services to provide choice, convenience, and services that adapt to individual needs, similar to private sector standards. Governments are pursuing initiatives to improve customer service, such as joining up services across organizations and introducing more personalized approaches. New technologies are also enabling new ways for citizens to access services.
Prospects and Challenges for Urban and Metropolitan AdministrationJo Balucanag - Bitonio
The document discusses the challenges and opportunities of urbanization in the Philippines. It notes that urban areas already account for most of the population and economic output, and these figures are projected to continue growing significantly. However, rapid urbanization also risks exacerbating issues like poverty, unemployment, lack of basic services, and environmental degradation if not properly managed. Key challenges include improving competitiveness and job creation, alleviating urban poverty, strengthening urban governance, expanding access to basic services, and managing environmental and population impacts. Strategic approaches recommended include stakeholder partnerships, city development strategies, inter-local cooperation, and treating cities as interconnected ecosystems.
"Role of Urban Governance in Time of Pandemic"ESD UNU-IAS
"Role of Urban Governance in Time of Pandemic"
Dr. Remy Sietchiping, Chief Policy, Legislation and Governance Section at UN- Habitat, Kenya
10th African Regional RCE Meeting
1 & 15 September, 2020
The document discusses reforms to the Philippine public administration system based on new public management theories. It outlines how the system has moved towards decentralization by devolving powers to local governments through the 1991 Local Government Code. It also discusses increasing privatization of services, public-private partnerships through build-operate-transfer agreements, and greater use of non-governmental organizations to deliver social services. The reforms aim to make the government more efficient, democratic, and responsive to local needs.
This document discusses tools to support transparency in local urban governance. It notes the global trend of urbanization and challenges of increasing poverty, unsustainable development patterns, and limited local government capacity. New approaches emphasize good governance, local authorities as enablers, partnerships, and inclusiveness. Promising innovations need scaling up. Key ingredients for inclusive cities are good urban governance and tools that support principles like sustainability, equity and civic engagement. These include participatory budgeting, decision making, and local dialogues. Expected outcomes are more equitable services, accountability, legitimacy, and resources.
The document discusses several challenges facing urbanization in the Philippines, including capacity gaps in urban planning, outdated policies, lack of financial resources in cities, and vulnerability to climate change. It also outlines the government's strategies to promote inclusive growth through initiatives like building safe communities, developing sustainable neighborhoods, and strengthening housing and urban development interventions. The conclusion notes that the 2022 national election is approaching the end of President Duterte's term, and priorities include continuing inclusive economic growth and reducing inequality.
This document discusses metropolitan governance arrangements in the Philippines. It provides background on the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which coordinates planning, monitoring, and services across 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila. The MMDA is headed by a chairman appointed by the president and has departments that help coordinate functions. Metropolitan arrangements emerged in the 1990s as a way to jointly provide more efficient urban services across multiple local governments. However, they also present challenges around governance structures, identities, priorities, and diversity that need to be addressed. The document examines models of metropolitan arrangements and examples in Metro Manila, Metro BLIST, Metro Naga, and Metro Cebu.
Challenges faced in emergency response phase in urban areasAshique Hasan
The world is now facing a rapid growth of urbanization mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Now the time has come to give more attention to urban people as the humanitarian agencies faced lots of difficulties in emergency response phase in urban areas. And some of the difficulties are very challenging and uncommon compared to rural areas. The uncontrolled urbanization due to unexpected migration towards urban areas is one of the underlying causes for that. Beside these lack of good governance and peoples accountability also responsible for stimulating the migration process towards urban areas. This paper tries to focus the causes of migration. And how it turns into hazard in urban perspective and create difficulties for the humanitarian agencies job during emergency response phase. Basing on case study of Haiti and Chile earthquake this paper highlights the gaps and limitation of the government’s disaster plan and following with some recommendations.
This document provides an overview of disaster loss data collection and registration methods. It discusses the definition of disasters and debates around their natural or human-caused nature. It introduces DesInventar as a methodology for collecting disaster loss data at the national and local levels. Databases like EM-DAT and those maintained by insurance companies are mentioned, but they often lack sub-national data or consistent methodologies for comparison. Registering disaster losses is key to understanding risk and informing disaster risk reduction efforts.
The document discusses the challenges and opportunities of urban development in the Philippines. Some key points:
- Rapid urbanization is occurring, with nearly half the population living in urban areas and Metro Manila's population projected to reach 14 million by 2030.
- This brings economic opportunities but also problems like traffic, lack of basic services, increasing slums and poverty, and environmental issues if not properly managed.
- Private sector involvement through public-private partnerships is seen as important to addressing infrastructure needs while not overburdening public finances.
- A national urban policy and stronger institutions are needed to better coordinate urban planning, housing, and service delivery across national and local governments.
The document discusses tools and principles for effective metropolitan governance. It notes that metropolitan areas represent around 60% of GDP and employment in OECD countries, and are major drivers of national economic growth. However, metropolitan areas can also be highly unequal internally. Effective metropolitan governance requires addressing functional urban areas beyond administrative boundaries, as higher administrative fragmentation is associated with lower productivity and greater inequality. While governance structures vary across countries, almost two-thirds of OECD metropolitan areas have some form of metropolitan governance body. Key principles for effective metropolitan governance include implementing projects to encourage collaboration, ensuring reliable financing, and establishing monitoring and evaluation.
This document provides background context on the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning. It discusses the objectives of providing a universal framework to guide urban policy reforms and planning approaches adapted to different contexts. The guidelines are intended to complement previous UN-Habitat guidelines on decentralization and access to basic services. The document outlines the scope of the guidelines in addressing planning at various scales from supranational to neighborhood levels. It also describes the multi-stage consultative process undertaken with experts and partners in developing the guidelines.
The document discusses the city development strategy (CDS) planning process according to the World Bank. It describes the key phases and tools used in each phase. The phases include assessing the current situation, defining a vision for the future, identifying priority issues, building consensus, formulating strategies, and determining actions. Tools range from stakeholder consultations and SWOT analyses to project prioritization matrices and monitoring frameworks. The goal of the CDS process is to establish a strategic plan to guide a city's sustainable development through participatory and evidence-based decision making.
03 - NAPC - Organizational Role is ISF Resettlement (Aquino)Joseph Aquino
This document summarizes a presentation given by Joseph M. Aquino from the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) on organizational roles and functions in the context of resettling informal settler families (ISFs) in Metro Manila. It outlines NAPC's mandate to represent basic sectors and coordinate poverty alleviation programs. It also discusses the P50 billion fund for relocating ISFs from danger zones and waterways in the National Capital Region. Key points covered include the roles of different stakeholders in ISF resettlement, the resettlement process, state obligations regarding ISFs, and institutional issues around localization of resettlement programs.
Paper focus on the status of urban local bodies in the Indian context, their role and importance in making urban areas more livable and sustainable, roadblocks hampering their operational efficiencies and options to make them vibrant institutions of governance
Urban governance refers to how government and stakeholders plan, finance, and manage urban areas. Effective urban governance depends on local institutions as well as the national framework. It involves continuous negotiation over resources and power. Key elements of effective urban governance include the relationship between city and national governments, municipal capacity to plan and manage growth, and inclusive political systems and institutions. Good urban governance promotes transparency, accountability, participation, and the rule of law. Factors contributing to improved urban governance are clear objectives, legal frameworks, decision-making processes, appropriate funding, cooperation between actors, and division of responsibilities.
This document discusses urban mobility and poverty. It begins with an introduction to urbanization trends like rural to urban migration. It then covers different types of urban population movements such as gentrification, suburbanization, urban sprawl, and counter-urbanization. The document defines poverty and its dimensions. It identifies reasons for urban poverty such as urbanization, migration, and lack of education/jobs. It concludes by stating that basic services, women's participation, and community-led programs are essential for effective poverty alleviation strategies.
Regional aspects of development and planningKinza Irshad
The document discusses issues related to rapid urbanization and population growth in developing countries in Asia and around the world. It notes that the urban population in Asia is expected to increase dramatically by 2020, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and resources. Developing countries are making policies to address problems caused by this growth. The document also discusses regional planning as a tool to help guide development, reduce imbalances, and integrate economic, social, and environmental goals. It examines concepts of regions and regional development and argues regional planning can help implement national development goals through coordinated regional growth.
The document outlines the World Bank's strategy to strengthen engagement on governance and anti-corruption. It identifies mechanisms to build transparent and accountable institutions, improve monitoring of corruption in World Bank projects, and take a harmonized approach with other development partners. Key elements of the strategy include addressing governance issues and corruption at the project, country, and global levels.
Global Experiences in Land Readjustment: Urban Legal Case Studies: Volume 7Dr Lendy Spires
This document provides an overview and introduction to the concept of land readjustment as well as an analysis of common themes and enabling factors for land readjustment in developing countries. It then presents 11 case studies of land readjustment projects from around the world, including in China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Thailand, Turkey, Bhutan, Russia, Angola, and Chile. Each case study provides country-specific details and lessons learned regarding the implementation of land readjustment.
Presentation by Maimunah Mohd Sharif on UN-Habitat's COVID-19 response and key areas of focus, April 2020.
Learn more: https://www.wri.org/events/2020/04/webinar-build-back-better-cities-frontlines-covid-19
By 2025, half of the world's population will live in urban areas, with 90% of that in developing nations. There will be 100 mega-cities with over 10 million people each, and India will see its urban population grow twice as fast as its total population, with major growth in its 35+ million-person cities. Urbanization has led to deforestation and environmental risks, but cities themselves are also at risk from issues caused by large populations and infrastructure stresses.
This document presents a resilience strategy framework and theory of change for the National Alliance for Risk Reduction and Response Initiatives (NARRI) Consortium for 2015-2020. The framework emphasizes building stability through preparedness and response, improving adaptive strengths by building resilient livelihoods and access to basic services, and developing transformative capacity through good governance and leadership transformation. It also highlights research, innovation and knowledge management to improve the strategic environment. The goal is to develop solutions that provide vulnerable groups choice and opportunities for a better future through building long-term resilience.
Kornakova marchamethodforlearningacrossdifferentdisastercasesexampleoftheurba...Global Risk Forum GRFDavos
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland
"Role of Urban Governance in Time of Pandemic"ESD UNU-IAS
"Role of Urban Governance in Time of Pandemic"
Dr. Remy Sietchiping, Chief Policy, Legislation and Governance Section at UN- Habitat, Kenya
10th African Regional RCE Meeting
1 & 15 September, 2020
The document discusses reforms to the Philippine public administration system based on new public management theories. It outlines how the system has moved towards decentralization by devolving powers to local governments through the 1991 Local Government Code. It also discusses increasing privatization of services, public-private partnerships through build-operate-transfer agreements, and greater use of non-governmental organizations to deliver social services. The reforms aim to make the government more efficient, democratic, and responsive to local needs.
This document discusses tools to support transparency in local urban governance. It notes the global trend of urbanization and challenges of increasing poverty, unsustainable development patterns, and limited local government capacity. New approaches emphasize good governance, local authorities as enablers, partnerships, and inclusiveness. Promising innovations need scaling up. Key ingredients for inclusive cities are good urban governance and tools that support principles like sustainability, equity and civic engagement. These include participatory budgeting, decision making, and local dialogues. Expected outcomes are more equitable services, accountability, legitimacy, and resources.
The document discusses several challenges facing urbanization in the Philippines, including capacity gaps in urban planning, outdated policies, lack of financial resources in cities, and vulnerability to climate change. It also outlines the government's strategies to promote inclusive growth through initiatives like building safe communities, developing sustainable neighborhoods, and strengthening housing and urban development interventions. The conclusion notes that the 2022 national election is approaching the end of President Duterte's term, and priorities include continuing inclusive economic growth and reducing inequality.
This document discusses metropolitan governance arrangements in the Philippines. It provides background on the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which coordinates planning, monitoring, and services across 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila. The MMDA is headed by a chairman appointed by the president and has departments that help coordinate functions. Metropolitan arrangements emerged in the 1990s as a way to jointly provide more efficient urban services across multiple local governments. However, they also present challenges around governance structures, identities, priorities, and diversity that need to be addressed. The document examines models of metropolitan arrangements and examples in Metro Manila, Metro BLIST, Metro Naga, and Metro Cebu.
Challenges faced in emergency response phase in urban areasAshique Hasan
The world is now facing a rapid growth of urbanization mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Now the time has come to give more attention to urban people as the humanitarian agencies faced lots of difficulties in emergency response phase in urban areas. And some of the difficulties are very challenging and uncommon compared to rural areas. The uncontrolled urbanization due to unexpected migration towards urban areas is one of the underlying causes for that. Beside these lack of good governance and peoples accountability also responsible for stimulating the migration process towards urban areas. This paper tries to focus the causes of migration. And how it turns into hazard in urban perspective and create difficulties for the humanitarian agencies job during emergency response phase. Basing on case study of Haiti and Chile earthquake this paper highlights the gaps and limitation of the government’s disaster plan and following with some recommendations.
This document provides an overview of disaster loss data collection and registration methods. It discusses the definition of disasters and debates around their natural or human-caused nature. It introduces DesInventar as a methodology for collecting disaster loss data at the national and local levels. Databases like EM-DAT and those maintained by insurance companies are mentioned, but they often lack sub-national data or consistent methodologies for comparison. Registering disaster losses is key to understanding risk and informing disaster risk reduction efforts.
The document discusses the challenges and opportunities of urban development in the Philippines. Some key points:
- Rapid urbanization is occurring, with nearly half the population living in urban areas and Metro Manila's population projected to reach 14 million by 2030.
- This brings economic opportunities but also problems like traffic, lack of basic services, increasing slums and poverty, and environmental issues if not properly managed.
- Private sector involvement through public-private partnerships is seen as important to addressing infrastructure needs while not overburdening public finances.
- A national urban policy and stronger institutions are needed to better coordinate urban planning, housing, and service delivery across national and local governments.
The document discusses tools and principles for effective metropolitan governance. It notes that metropolitan areas represent around 60% of GDP and employment in OECD countries, and are major drivers of national economic growth. However, metropolitan areas can also be highly unequal internally. Effective metropolitan governance requires addressing functional urban areas beyond administrative boundaries, as higher administrative fragmentation is associated with lower productivity and greater inequality. While governance structures vary across countries, almost two-thirds of OECD metropolitan areas have some form of metropolitan governance body. Key principles for effective metropolitan governance include implementing projects to encourage collaboration, ensuring reliable financing, and establishing monitoring and evaluation.
This document provides background context on the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning. It discusses the objectives of providing a universal framework to guide urban policy reforms and planning approaches adapted to different contexts. The guidelines are intended to complement previous UN-Habitat guidelines on decentralization and access to basic services. The document outlines the scope of the guidelines in addressing planning at various scales from supranational to neighborhood levels. It also describes the multi-stage consultative process undertaken with experts and partners in developing the guidelines.
The document discusses the city development strategy (CDS) planning process according to the World Bank. It describes the key phases and tools used in each phase. The phases include assessing the current situation, defining a vision for the future, identifying priority issues, building consensus, formulating strategies, and determining actions. Tools range from stakeholder consultations and SWOT analyses to project prioritization matrices and monitoring frameworks. The goal of the CDS process is to establish a strategic plan to guide a city's sustainable development through participatory and evidence-based decision making.
03 - NAPC - Organizational Role is ISF Resettlement (Aquino)Joseph Aquino
This document summarizes a presentation given by Joseph M. Aquino from the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) on organizational roles and functions in the context of resettling informal settler families (ISFs) in Metro Manila. It outlines NAPC's mandate to represent basic sectors and coordinate poverty alleviation programs. It also discusses the P50 billion fund for relocating ISFs from danger zones and waterways in the National Capital Region. Key points covered include the roles of different stakeholders in ISF resettlement, the resettlement process, state obligations regarding ISFs, and institutional issues around localization of resettlement programs.
Paper focus on the status of urban local bodies in the Indian context, their role and importance in making urban areas more livable and sustainable, roadblocks hampering their operational efficiencies and options to make them vibrant institutions of governance
Urban governance refers to how government and stakeholders plan, finance, and manage urban areas. Effective urban governance depends on local institutions as well as the national framework. It involves continuous negotiation over resources and power. Key elements of effective urban governance include the relationship between city and national governments, municipal capacity to plan and manage growth, and inclusive political systems and institutions. Good urban governance promotes transparency, accountability, participation, and the rule of law. Factors contributing to improved urban governance are clear objectives, legal frameworks, decision-making processes, appropriate funding, cooperation between actors, and division of responsibilities.
This document discusses urban mobility and poverty. It begins with an introduction to urbanization trends like rural to urban migration. It then covers different types of urban population movements such as gentrification, suburbanization, urban sprawl, and counter-urbanization. The document defines poverty and its dimensions. It identifies reasons for urban poverty such as urbanization, migration, and lack of education/jobs. It concludes by stating that basic services, women's participation, and community-led programs are essential for effective poverty alleviation strategies.
Regional aspects of development and planningKinza Irshad
The document discusses issues related to rapid urbanization and population growth in developing countries in Asia and around the world. It notes that the urban population in Asia is expected to increase dramatically by 2020, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and resources. Developing countries are making policies to address problems caused by this growth. The document also discusses regional planning as a tool to help guide development, reduce imbalances, and integrate economic, social, and environmental goals. It examines concepts of regions and regional development and argues regional planning can help implement national development goals through coordinated regional growth.
The document outlines the World Bank's strategy to strengthen engagement on governance and anti-corruption. It identifies mechanisms to build transparent and accountable institutions, improve monitoring of corruption in World Bank projects, and take a harmonized approach with other development partners. Key elements of the strategy include addressing governance issues and corruption at the project, country, and global levels.
Global Experiences in Land Readjustment: Urban Legal Case Studies: Volume 7Dr Lendy Spires
This document provides an overview and introduction to the concept of land readjustment as well as an analysis of common themes and enabling factors for land readjustment in developing countries. It then presents 11 case studies of land readjustment projects from around the world, including in China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Thailand, Turkey, Bhutan, Russia, Angola, and Chile. Each case study provides country-specific details and lessons learned regarding the implementation of land readjustment.
Presentation by Maimunah Mohd Sharif on UN-Habitat's COVID-19 response and key areas of focus, April 2020.
Learn more: https://www.wri.org/events/2020/04/webinar-build-back-better-cities-frontlines-covid-19
By 2025, half of the world's population will live in urban areas, with 90% of that in developing nations. There will be 100 mega-cities with over 10 million people each, and India will see its urban population grow twice as fast as its total population, with major growth in its 35+ million-person cities. Urbanization has led to deforestation and environmental risks, but cities themselves are also at risk from issues caused by large populations and infrastructure stresses.
This document presents a resilience strategy framework and theory of change for the National Alliance for Risk Reduction and Response Initiatives (NARRI) Consortium for 2015-2020. The framework emphasizes building stability through preparedness and response, improving adaptive strengths by building resilient livelihoods and access to basic services, and developing transformative capacity through good governance and leadership transformation. It also highlights research, innovation and knowledge management to improve the strategic environment. The goal is to develop solutions that provide vulnerable groups choice and opportunities for a better future through building long-term resilience.
Kornakova marchamethodforlearningacrossdifferentdisastercasesexampleoftheurba...Global Risk Forum GRFDavos
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland
Urban community-based adaptation: opportunities and challengesIIED
A presentation given by Diane Archer, a researcher with IIED's Human Settlements Group, to the Institute for Housing & Urban Development Studies in mid-March 2014.
Community-based adaptation is an opportunity to address the social, economic and political drivers of vulnerability to climate variability and extreme events as part of broader development processes.
A video version of her presentation can be viewed via http://www.streamingvalley.com/ihsalumni/unlocking-community-potentials/, while more information on the Human Settlements Group can be found via http://www.iied.org/group/human-settlements.
6th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016 Integrative Risk Management - Towards Resilient Cities. 28 August - 01 September 2016 in Davos, Switzerland
Urban risk reduction initiatives in Bangladesh include school safety programs, mass casualty management training, and earthquake/fire preparedness in garment factories. Steps involve awareness raising, safer construction, planning, and capacity building. Challenges include limited hospital capacity and lack of evacuation plans in factories. Moving forward, priorities are integrating disaster risk reduction into curricula, strengthening volunteer programs, and encouraging policy reforms and private sector investment in workplace safety.
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland
This document provides updates on the Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) for South East Asia from 2012-2013. It includes the following information:
- An overview of DIPECHO funding for various organizations in multiple countries in the region, listing the beneficiaries for each project.
- Notes from regional updates on DIPECHO programming in countries like DPRK, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines.
- Discussion points about coordination between ECHO and Red Cross partners in Southeast Asia, including challenges with regional/multi-country initiatives and strategies.
- Guiding principles for ECHO's disaster risk reduction actions going forward, focusing on a people-centered approach
The document summarizes the 2004 World Disasters Report, which focuses on building community resilience. It discusses how communities can better cope with and recover from disasters by strengthening local capacities and self-reliance. Case studies from countries like India, Iran, and the Philippines show how participatory approaches that engage communities in disaster risk reduction and response planning can increase resilience. The report also examines threats like disease outbreaks, environmental hazards, and urban poverty that undermine resilience, and ways to help communities manage these risks.
CBA 7 Mainstreaming DRR into Local Development Planning.
Ronilda Co, DRR and Community Resilience Specialist
World Vision Asia Pacific Region
CBA7, Dhaka Bangladesh
21-25 April 2013
Approach of irw towards urban safety collective action for resilient urban ...M. Mizanur Rahman
Urbanization is believed to be both – a cause and effect of economic growth, employment generation and overall development of any country. It is here to stay. The attached paper does not get into the merits or demerits of the phenomenon but, assuming it is here to stay, looks at the various aspects of how do IRW builds a disaster preparedness into it for an overall risk reduction in urban areas. It also captures approach of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW-B) in urban areas, where the communities have been empowered with a very good knowledge level on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), skill of response in case of emergency, and coordination with different relevant bodies to assess and minimize their risks.
EMI & IFRC study on Urban Resilience in Asia and PacificURRworkshop
This document provides guidance for the Red Cross and Red Crescent's role in urban community resilience programming in Asia Pacific. It identifies key issues with existing RCRC urban programs and proposes strategies to address gaps. The main issues are that programs are designed for rural areas, there is limited risk assessment data in cities, and guidelines are not adapted to urban contexts. The strategies proposed include strengthening partnerships in cities, building on emergency response strengths, improving risk knowledge, and adapting existing tools. The roles defined for RCRC focus on advocating for vulnerable groups, preparing urban volunteers, and sharing expertise between National Societies.
The document provides a checklist for identifying, designing, implementing, and evaluating risk reduction projects in urban areas. It is structured in 5 sections - strategic analysis, diagnosis and formulation, execution, evaluation and learning, and exit strategy or sustainability. Each section contains activities, aspects to verify, and proposed methodologies to guide analysis and implementation of projects at each phase. The checklist is intended to help integrate key elements and ensure projects properly consider relevant stakeholders, processes, and risks.
The document discusses the challenges of humanitarian action in urban environments. It notes that:
1) Cities are growing rapidly worldwide, with over half the global population now living in urban areas. This unprecedented urbanization is redefining human civilization.
2) While cities can more efficiently provide for populations, urbanization also increases stresses on infrastructure, the environment, and social networks, exacerbating vulnerability to disasters.
3) There is no single definition of "urban" - environments exist on a continuum from rural to urban. Humanitarians must understand the specific context of each urban area to effectively respond to disasters.
This document provides characterization of the dynamic border between Guabito, Panama and Sixaola, Costa Rica. The two communities share many similarities as the populations have integrated economies and cultures. Both rely on banana agriculture and have experienced flooding issues. The majority of residents are lower/middle class and work in agriculture or for banana companies. While the communities belong to different countries, the border region is considered a homogeneous area with interconnected populations.
Conceptual framework risk in urban contextURRworkshop
The document discusses the concept of urban risk and strengthening community resilience in urban areas. It notes that one of the IFRC's priorities is reducing the effects of disasters through community resilience. It then provides background on urbanization trends in Latin America and how rapid urban growth has increased vulnerability in cities. The document aims to contribute to understanding the concept of "urban risk" and differentiate it from general risk. It covers topics like the relationship between urban and rural areas, definitions of urban and city, urban characteristics, and risk trends in urban contexts. The overall purpose is to inform strategies for disaster risk reduction in urban communities.
Indegenious knowledge in disaster risk reductionIndependent
Members provided examples of indigenous knowledge used for disaster risk management in India and Indonesia. In India, some communities use traditional methods for weather forecasting and disaster warnings. In Indonesia and India, unusual animal behaviors or environmental changes are sometimes used as warning signs for disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes. Respondents also described traditional agricultural practices, housing construction techniques, and other social and economic coping strategies used by indigenous communities. They emphasized the importance of understanding, respecting, and building upon existing indigenous knowledge and social systems for effective community-based disaster management.
DRR CCA Learning Centre Guideline approved by GONDPNet
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Extra presentation urban safe school project plan idn-yusra tebe-drr practiti...IFRCCOMMS
This document summarizes Plan Indonesia's ongoing Urban Safe Schools Project in Jakarta. The key points are:
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2) Lessons learned so far include the challenges of engaging busy urban teachers and scheduling activities around school commitments, as well as the value of collaboration with education officials.
3) Moving forward, the project will conduct structural assessments, emergency drills, develop safety plans with child participation, and train teachers to mainstream disaster risk education. Outreach and sharing lessons between schools will also continue
This document provides an overview of principles, tools, and practices for building urban resilience. It discusses how cities face increasing disaster risks due to urbanization and climate change. Building resilience requires flexible, dynamic approaches that consider long-term trends, uncertainties, and worst-case scenarios. The document outlines guidance on risk assessment, risk-based land use planning, social resilience, ecosystem management, and enhancing resilience in key infrastructure sectors like water, energy, and transportation. The overall aim is to help decision-makers mainstream disaster risk management into urban planning and investments.
Governance is about the processes by which public policy decisions are made and implemented. ICT can become a catalyst to improve governance in towns and cities and help increase the levels of participation, efficiency and accountability in public urban policies, provided that the tools are appropriately used, accessible and affordable. This book examines how ICT enabled governance is applied to urban policy design and highlights case studies, tools, methodologies, all reflecting current challenges and potential for the use of ICT in governance processes in cities. See chapter: Dumb Phones, Smart Youth: Impact of ICT and Mobile Platforms on Youth Engagement in Local Governance
The document discusses trends in urban humanitarian contexts in Asia. It notes that over 50% of the population lives in urban areas currently, rising to over 60% by 2030. Asia experiences the majority of natural disasters globally and its urban population is growing rapidly. This represents a paradigm shift for humanitarian response, which traditionally focuses on rural areas. Effective urban humanitarian response requires approaches that consider neighborhoods rather than households, focus on urban livelihoods and governance, utilize cash and private sector involvement, and empower women. Key questions are discussed around how to approach WASH and livelihoods programs in urban humanitarian response.
Smart cities-what's in it for citizens report: Smart Cities Technologies Give...DESMOND YUEN
The concept of “smart cities,” which employs Internet of Things (IoT) technologies such as connected sensors, meters and lights to collect and analyze data to improve public infrastructure and services, holds the promise to dramatically change the way citizens live, work and get around. But is there a way to tangibly measure these benefits?
Yes, there is. An Intel-sponsored study by Juniper Research estimates that smart cities have the potential to “give back” a remarkable 125 hours to every resident every year. Additionally, the study ranks the top 20 smart cities worldwide across four key areas: mobility, health care, public safety and productivity, and reveals how these cities deliver positive outcomes for increased time savings and productivity, increases in health and overall quality of life, and a safer environment.
Preparing and empowering cities in the face of epidmics 19-JitKumarGupta1
Cities rattled by COVID-19 crisis, need to be made safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable. Despite enormous damage to the fabric , structure, economy, employment, loss of human life etc., cities are known for their capacity to reduce the impact of future pandemics and become more equitable, healthy and environment- friendly.Studies made globally reveal that, existing dichotomy, contradictions and inequality, lack of access to basic services, poverty and overcrowded living conditions, have been largely responsible and destabilizing factors in increasing the scale and impact of COVID-19.‘Cities can help overcome development deficits; spearhead reforms to tackle poverty, strengthen social protection, restore public trust and reach people facing deprivation. New normal for urban planners/managers would be to make cities prioritizing health, housing; commitment to human rights involving; focus on policies to protect land rights, improve access to water, sanitation, public transport, electricity, health , education facilities; and ensuring inclusive digital connectivity. For empowerment, cities need to prepare detailed disaster mitigation plans at local level involving local communities and creating disaster preparedness centers at different levels for their effective management. Improving cities and making them more sustainable must involve; creating career/business opportunities; safe and affordable housing, building resilient societies; making investment in public transport to provide greater and unhindered access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, including for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities; and making urban planning Inclusive and sustainable. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces.Each city/urban settlement remain unique, needs to develop, adapt and implement its own operational plans to effectively counter the natural/ manmade disasters.
Preparing and Empowering Cities in the face of Pandemics- Covid 19.JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper makes an attempt to understand the context and impact of Covid 19 on the urban settlements, people and communities in terms of operation, economy, mobility, healthcare etc. and tries to define the issue which needs to be addressed and options which need to be exercised in order to enable and empower cities to counter to the negative effect of all natural and manmade disasters to make them better places to live and work.
Occupying merely 3% of global land resource and housing more than half of global population, cities are known to generate global prosperity besides consuming 70% of energy and 75% of global carbon footprints. Cities are also known to be major consumers of both manmade and natural resources besides generating large waste. Majority of global problems of climate change, global warming, rising temperature , flooding, disasters etc. can be attributed to the way cities are being treated , valued, planned and managed. If cities are the centres of all problems on this planet earth, surely they also have the solutions to overcome these problems. In order to make this world more sustainable, it will be critical to understand, appreciate, study and analyse the sources of the existing urban problems and then find options to overcome those problems. Considering the problem of energy, cities need to produce their own energy from the natural sources, rather than consuming black energy generated by thermal plants. In addition, cities need to be evaluated in terms of the activities which consume large energy. Focus should be to make those activities resource efficient. Travel, traffic and built environment are the major consumers of energy, they need to be reinvented and redefined to make them least consumers of energy. Cities need to look for green options of travel and creating built environment. Cities need to evolve their agenda for minimizing climate change. Reducing urban waste calls for adopting circular economy approach. Technology would need to be leveraged to make cities more resource/energy efficient. Large options are available on this planet earth which needs to be leveraged in a rational and realistic manner to make cities zero-carbon, in order to overcome the global problems revolving around sustainability, livability, quality of life, poverty and non-availability of basic human needs.
Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development: Correcting Planning Fa...Jonathan Dunnemann
Tackling urban poverty and attending to its spatial manifestations is vitally important to national economic and social development. From a low of an estimated 28 percent of
the population in Latin America to a high of 76 percent in South Asia, the urban poor constitute both an enormous challenge and an opportunity. The speed with which many
regions of the world are urbanizing, the haphazard spatial development of urban areas, and the deplorable conditions under which more than 800 million slum dwellers live make the need to address urban poverty more urgent than ever. At the same time, government and business leaders are awakening to the potential to advance social and economic development by engaging the urban poor as consumers, producers, assetbuilders,
and entrepreneurs.
The document discusses challenges and approaches to disaster risk reduction in urban areas of Bangladesh. It outlines several major urban hazards including earthquakes, fires, and flooding. Factors like rapid unplanned urbanization, population growth, lack of governance, and lack of awareness make DRR difficult. However, community empowerment through knowledge, coordination, and collective action can help build urban resilience. The document describes Islamic Relief Worldwide's community-based approach in Sylhet, involving different community groups working together on activities to promote urban safety.
Strategies for Planning Smart and Sustainable CitiesJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Smart city remains a misnomer. No city on planet earth can claim to be smart. Experts are still searching the soul of smart city in order to precisely define it .Unfortunately smart city has become a money spending/spinning exercise for few individuals/agencies. Entire concept of smart city has been made technology centric, minimizing the role and importance of human beings. In addition, role of Town Planners in smart city has been totally marginalized. How can a city be made smart without intervention of planning and planners. Smart city as a concept has been copied globally to promote operational efficiency and productivity of the cities , with minimum concern for human growth and development. Addressing issue of poverty and making city livable for all should be the agenda of urban growth and development. In the face of homeless people , absence of basic amenities and facilities essential of human living, making city’s smart will be a fallacy and prove to be counterproductive. Cities do not exist in isolation and require the support of rural hinterland. Dealing cities alone by excluding villages will invariably lead to lopsided growth of cities because genesis of majority of urban ills has roots in the neglect of the rural areas. Urban areas must do handholding for the rural areas for synergizing mutual strength and to usher a new era of rational growth. Smart city concept must focus on empowering human being/ living, making them more skilled, create options for meeting the basic human needs and removing the curse of poverty and unemployment.
Cities are fonts of ideas, opportunity, art and political movements. But urban enclaves can also generate inequality, epidemics and pollution. The rapid pace of urbanization in the coming decades brings these and other unprecedented opportunities and challenges to the fore. Will cities lose their vibrant potential if the challenges they face spiral out of control?
Youth demands for the New Urban Agenda (Habitat III)Alice Junqueira
This document’s goal is to contribute to the international conversation about youth and cities governance and it’s importance to the urban sustainable development agenda.
The work is specially aimed to contribute to the discussions of The Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) - The New Urban Agenda (NUA), but it should not be restricted to it. Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, Population and Development Agenda, Human Rights Agenda, and other international agendas are also agendas to which the urban issue is central, since we live in an urban world and cities are core to achieve more just and sustainable societies.
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The document proposes establishing the Global Centre for Cities Innovation and Revitalization (GCCIR) to address potential global disasters facing cities by 2030. The GCCIR would be an international organization that brings together cities to promote sustainability, livability, revitalization and growth. It would fund programs through member city dues and contributions. The GCCIR would use challenge-driven innovation and crowdsourcing to solve cities' problems related to services, citizens, business, transportation, communication, water and more. The goal is to help cities attract and develop their citizens' skills and creativity to compete in the new talent-based economy.
This document discusses the challenges facing urban development as populations grow increasingly urban. It notes that over half the world's population now lives in cities, and that number will continue increasing dramatically. Sustainable urban development is challenging due to demands on infrastructure, resources, and budgets. The document calls for greater autonomy for cities, public-private partnerships, empowered local governments, green building practices from large organizations, and a focus on priorities like transportation, housing, and renewable energy.
A spatial data infrastructure (SDI) provides access to spatial information through standards, policies, and coordination. While SDIs have traditionally used a product-led model, newer approaches focus more on user needs. Limitations like a lack of standards for linked data need addressing. The essay proposes an improved 2019 SDI integrating existing developments and emerging trends like cloud computing and linked data to offer standardized, on-demand access to spatial services and processing power through software/platform/infrastructure as a service models.
Challenges faced in emergency response phase in urban areasAshique Hasan
The document discusses challenges faced by humanitarian agencies in providing emergency response in urban areas based on lessons from earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. It notes that uncontrolled urbanization due to migration has created difficulties including political complexity, frequent displacement of vulnerable groups, lack of social cohesion, differing psychological needs, security issues for aid workers, looting, violence and crime. The Haiti and Chile earthquakes demonstrated problems like political leaders interfering with aid distribution for political gain, and widespread looting occurred when law and order broke down. The document argues humanitarian efforts need to better address the needs of the growing urban poor population.
The 2020 UNDRR Annual Report summarizes the organization's activities in supporting implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of managing interconnected risks and strengthened UNDRR's virtual outreach. Key accomplishments include monitoring Sendai Framework progress, supporting 101 countries to develop national disaster risk reduction strategies, and publishing regional and country-level risk assessments and policy guidance. The report also describes UNDRR's strategic priorities and objectives to further disaster risk reduction efforts through global coordination, advocacy, and partnership.
This document provides an overview of the first State of African Cities Report published in 2008 by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). It discusses the challenges of rapid urbanization in Africa, including rising urban poverty and the growth of slums. The report aims to bring attention to critical issues around housing, urban development, and governance in African cities. It also notes that most urban growth is now occurring in smaller secondary cities rather than the largest metropolitan areas.
Jane Jacobs was a pioneering thinker in urban planning who advocated an approach focused on the needs of local residents and communities. Some key aspects of her approach include:
- Emphasizing diversity of uses. Jacobs argued mixed-use neighborhoods with a variety of housing, businesses, parks and public spaces were more vibrant and better served local needs. Monofunctional zones separated different activities.
- Supporting walkability. Dense, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods encouraged casual public oversight that contributed to safety. An over-reliance on automobiles undermined community life.
- Bottom-up planning. Jacobs argued successful neighborhoods evolved organically to meet community needs, not through rigid top-down master plans. Planners should support and enhance what
Similar to humanitarian challanges in urban areas (20)
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This document discusses the importance of addressing gender equality in climate change policy at the city level. It notes that while cities, climate change, and gender issues have each received attention, the intersection of all three has not been fully explored. Gender inequalities mean that climate change impacts and mitigation strategies may differently and disproportionately affect women and men. It is important for climate policy to consider gender issues to promote equitable outcomes and ensure effective policymaking that engages all relevant stakeholders. The document provides background on these topics and proposes a conceptual framework and recommendations for mainstreaming gender perspectives into urban climate change responses.
This document outlines lessons learned from previous urban disaster relief and recovery operations. It discusses 9 key lessons for humanitarian organizations responding to urban disasters: 1) Have clear boundaries and exit strategies for urban programs while remaining flexible; 2) Work closely with local authorities and communities and coordinate effectively with other organizations; 3) Use assessment and targeting approaches suited to the complexity of urban areas; 4) Cash-based programs often work well in urban contexts; 5) Partner with local markets and private sector initiatives; 6) Adopt tailored approaches to camps, shelter and housing in urban areas; 7) 'Urbanize' sectoral interventions such as debris removal, WASH, food, health and protection; 8) Leverage new technologies like mobile phones
This document is a report by the World Bank on understanding and preventing urban violence. It examines the relationship between urbanization, violence and community resilience. The report provides an overview of risk and protective factors for violence at the community level. It also explores different forms of violence in cities and how violence can transform urban landscapes. The report studies community capacities for violence prevention like social capital and collective efficacy. It analyzes social interventions that support these community capacities as well as community perspectives on urban violence. The goal is to inform policies and programs to reduce violence and promote security in urban areas.
The IFRC defines resilience as the ability of individuals, communities, organizations, or countries exposed to disasters and crises to anticipate, reduce the impact of, cope with, and recover from adversity without compromising long-term prospects. Resilience exists at multiple interconnected levels from individual to global. The IFRC aims to strengthen resilience by increasing capacities through humanitarian relief that also addresses underlying vulnerabilities and builds skills to better cope with future shocks.
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This document provides an overview of three case studies of urban risk interventions by Red Cross National Societies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The case studies examine programs in Cali, Colombia, Kingston, Jamaica, and Managua, Nicaragua that address issues like violence prevention, HIV awareness and economic empowerment. Beneficiary stories from each location provide personal perspectives. The document concludes with an analysis of common urban risk challenges and recommendations for how the Red Cross can improve its approach to managing urban risk through integrated programs and a holistic understanding of cities as complex systems.
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This document summarizes a report on the role of social capital in community resilience. It finds that social capital, defined as networks, norms and social trust, plays a fundamental role in community resilience. Case studies from Nepal, China and Myanmar show how social capital helped communities cope with disasters by supporting each other. While the Red Cross has implicitly built social capital through volunteerism and community projects, tools to assess social capital could be strengthened. The report recommends sensitizing staff on social capital, conducting more thorough vulnerability assessments, enhancing baseline surveys to measure social capital, and streamlining tools to better reinforce community resilience over the long term.
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The Regional Disaster Management Unit of the International Federation analyzed the disaster management capacity and vulnerability of 11 countries in Southeast Asia. They used 13 indicators across four categories - hazard risk, vulnerability, response capacity, and disaster risk reduction capacity. Each country was given a rating based on scores assigned to the 13 indicators. The analysis will help the Regional Disaster Management Unit plan its activities for 2008-2009 and identify opportunities for collaboration with other organizations to strengthen capacity and reduce disaster risk in the region.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technologies, XML continues to play a vital role in structuring, storing, and transporting data across diverse systems. The recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) present new methodologies for enhancing XML development workflows, introducing efficiency, automation, and intelligent capabilities. This presentation will outline the scope and perspective of utilizing AI in XML development. The potential benefits and the possible pitfalls will be highlighted, providing a balanced view of the subject.
We will explore the capabilities of AI in understanding XML markup languages and autonomously creating structured XML content. Additionally, we will examine the capacity of AI to enrich plain text with appropriate XML markup. Practical examples and methodological guidelines will be provided to elucidate how AI can be effectively prompted to interpret and generate accurate XML markup.
Further emphasis will be placed on the role of AI in developing XSLT, or schemas such as XSD and Schematron. We will address the techniques and strategies adopted to create prompts for generating code, explaining code, or refactoring the code, and the results achieved.
The discussion will extend to how AI can be used to transform XML content. In particular, the focus will be on the use of AI XPath extension functions in XSLT, Schematron, Schematron Quick Fixes, or for XML content refactoring.
The presentation aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of AI usage in XML development, providing attendees with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions. Whether you’re at the early stages of adopting AI or considering integrating it in advanced XML development, this presentation will cover all levels of expertise.
By highlighting the potential advantages and challenges of integrating AI with XML development tools and languages, the presentation seeks to inspire thoughtful conversation around the future of XML development. We’ll not only delve into the technical aspects of AI-powered XML development but also discuss practical implications and possible future directions.
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3. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
iii
Increasingly, natural disasters and complex emergencies are having devastating impacts on ur-
ban areas. More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas. Nearly one billion
urban residents live in precarious informal settlements and slums and are among the world’s
most vulnerable populations.
Poorly planned, rapid urbanisation has increased the exposure and vulnerability of these popula-
tions to both natural disasters and complex emergencies. These catastrophes demonstrate the
growing need for the international humanitarian community and governments to better adapt
emergency response to the special requirements of urban areas. Better preparedness of local
communities and governments and expanded partnerships with governments, communities
and civil society will be required to reach the most vulnerable and affected populations in urban
contexts.
This Strategy for Meeting Humanitarian Challenges in Urban Areas and Two-Year Action Plan re-
flect an understanding of the need to improve our business model. The strategy is built around
six key objectives: i) Improving multi-stakeholder partnerships; ii) Building technical surge ca-
pacity and urban expertise; iii) Developing and adapting tools to urban contexts; iv) Promoting
the protection of vulnerable urban populations; v) Strengthening livelihoods; and vi) Enhancing
preparedness among national and local authorities in urban areas. The Strategy and Action Plan
are evidence-based and reflect experiences and good practices from stakeholders throughout
the international humanitarian system.
Working under the direction of the IASC Working Group, the Strategy and Action Plan were
developed by the IASC Task Force on Meeting Humanitarian Challenges in Urban Areas, chaired
by UN-HABITAT, with active participation of UN agencies, IOM, international NGO consortia and
the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. The Strategy and Two-Year Action Plan were endorsed
by the 78th IASC Working Group meeting in Rome on 10 November 2010.
We would like to thank all members and organizations for their constructive work and partici-
pation.
Foreword
Valerie Amos
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Dr. Joan Clos
Under-Secretary-General and
Executive Director UN-Habitat
4. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
iv
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1
II. URBANIZATION AND HUMANITARIAN CHALENGES URBANIZATION AND HUMANITARIAN ................2
Why should urbanization be a critical concern for humanitarians...................................................................2
What is different about urban-based humanitarian chalenges and risks compared to rural ones
which compel the ned for new approaches?..................................................................................................3
III. THE STRATEGY............................................................................................................................................4
A. Get the Humanitarian Response Priorities and Initial Strategies Right.........................................................4
Strategic objective 1.................................................................................................................................4
Strategic objective 2.................................................................................................................................6
Strategic objective 3.................................................................................................................................7
Strategic objective 4.................................................................................................................................9
B. Maximize Sustainabilit y of the Humanitarian Response..........................................................................11
Strategic objective 5...............................................................................................................................11
Strategic objective 6...............................................................................................................................12
IV. ACTION PLAN.......................................................................................................................................14
5. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
1
I. INTRODUCTION
The aim of this IASC Strategy is to
recommend actions which humanitarian
actors can take to make their responses to
humanitarian crises in urban areas more
effective and thereby save more lives and
accelerate early recovery. Six strategic
objectives and supporting actions are
proposed which will enhance their expertise
and operational capacities in urban areas.
This Strategy further addresses and prioritizes
the humanitarian challenges identified in the
Initial IASC Strategy for Meeting Humanitarian
Challenges in Urban Areas of 2009.1
This Strategy includes a recommended Two-
Year Action Plan of priority actions to be
implemented by IASC agencies and other
interestedpartners. ThisStrategyanditsAction
Plan proposes that individual IASC agencies
will choose those actions to implement which
are of highest priority to their operations
and to self-monitor their progress. Progress
under the Strategy and Action Plan should be
reviewed by the IASC Working Group after
two years to determine follow-on steps.
1 The fifteen challenges identified in 2009 Initial Strategy TF report
are: (1) Identifying and collaborating with urban institutions, authori-
ties and partners; (2) Inter-agency coordination in an urban context;
(3) Identification and targeting beneficiaries; (4) Adjusting organi-
zational tools, procedures and capacities to urban requirements; (5)
Linkages between humanitarian response and risk reduction in urban
areas; (6) Linking humanitarian assistance to recovery and sustain-
ability; (7) Urban shelter challenges; (8) Housing, land and property
(HLP) rights and issues in urban areas; (9) Protection challenges; (10)
Gender Based Violence; (11) Violence and security; (12) Health risks
in urban areas; (13) Food assistance, security and livelihoods; (14)
Water, sanitation and hygiene; (15) Vulnerability to climate change
impacts.
The principal objectives of this Strategy are
to:
consolidate and enhance current expertise•
of humanitarian actors
build their respective strategies for•
enhancing urban programming and
response implementation
identify good practices in tools and•
assessments, opportunities to further adapt
rural tools and identify remaining gaps
in order to improve operational capacity
and impact of urban-based humanitarian
assistance
strengthen four key elements – partnerships,•
host country national and local leadership,
preparedness planning and understanding/
analysisofvulnerability,communityresilience
and beneficiary targeting.
The Strategy takes into account:
Different types of international actor and•
mandates: United Nations agencies, Red
Cross/Red Crescent Movement, IOM, NGOs
(international, national and local)
Different types of crises: slow or sudden•
onset, natural or conflict-related disasters
and complex emergencies
No one assistance strategy fits all crises -•
adaptation to each crisis is required
Need for advocacy with donors to better•
understand and to support urban relief
efforts.
“This Strategy
and its Action
Plan proposes that
individual IASC
agencies will choose
those actions to
implement which
are of highest
priority to their
operations and to
self-monitor their
progress. Progress
under the Strategy
and Action Plan
should be reviewed
by the IASC
Working Group
after two years to
determine follow-on
steps.”
6. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
2
II. URBANIZATION AND
HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES
In 2008, 3.3 billion people lived in urban ar-
eas, surpassing for the first time over 50% of
the total global population. Of the total 3.3
billion urban dwellers today, one third or 1 bil-
lion live in precarious, under-served informal
settlements and slums which compound their
vulnerability to humanitarian crises and loss of
life. By 2030 the urban population is predicted
to exceed five billion and 80% of these urban
dwellers will reside in towns and cities of the
developing world. An urban area is a built-up
or densely populated area containing the city
proper and continuously settled peri-urban
areas1. Cities are also hubs of trade and in-
dustry. This is an important factor in why cities
in the developing world are growing so fast
and why they attract increasing numbers of
migrants.
The fastest urbanizing region is Africa with a
current urban growth rate of 3.3 per cent per
annum. Asia is growing at 2.6 per cent per an-
num. In both these regions, the urban popula-
tion is currently just under 40 per cent. How-
ever, in terms of sheer numbers, Asia currently
does and will continue to house the maximum
number of people in its cities and towns. Af-
rica, although least urbanized today, will be
home to 1.2 billion urban dwellers by 2050,
with a growing majority percentage of youths.
In these regions, urban growth is accentuated
by the increasing numbers of refugees and
IDPs who migrate to cities. In Latin America
and the Caribbean, nearly 77 per cent of the
population lived in urban areas in 2005, and
this region is growing on an average at 1.7 per
cent per annum. Urban growth in developed
countries takes place at a much slower pace,
at an annual rate of 0.75 per cent. 2
Why should urbanization
be a critical concern for
1 Different criteria and methods are currently being used by govern-
ments to define “urban”. The most commonly used criteria include:
Administrative jurisdiction - limiting urban to the boundaries of state
or provincial capitals, municipalities or other local jurisdictions; and
Population Size - with minimum concentrations ranging broadly,
from 200 to 50,000 inhabitants. Other criteria used to define
“urban” include the economic base (typically, the proportion of the
labor force employed in non-agricultural activities), and availability of
urban infrastructure.
2 UN-HABITAT. State of the World’s Cities 2006/7: The Millennium
Development Goals and Urban Sustainability: 30 Years of Shaping
the Habitat Agenda, UN-HABITAT (2006) United Nations: Principles
and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses and
World Urbanization Prospects.
humanitarians?
There are important differences between ur-
ban and rural areas which need to be consid-
ered by humanitarians.
The scale of rapid urbanization and the•
growing numbers of people at risk of a hu-
manitarian crisis or needing assistance is a
challenge compared to more sparsely popu-
lated rural areas.
The concentration of resources, assets and•
services in cities can lead to more delibilt-
ating impacts of disasters, conflict and vio-
lence. These resources are also part of the
resilience and strengths of urban centers for
response delivery, if not destroyed.
The complexity of urban areas pose chal-•
lenges in terms of varied partners but also
presents an opportunity for productive part-
nerships for relief assistance delivery. This
complexity, compared to rural settings, de-
mands a deeper knowledge of the spatial
and social structure of cities and the poten-
tial for stronger partnerships with municipal
and national governments, civil society and
communities. This calls for a paradigm shift
in humanitarian assistance in urban areas
based on a district or community-based,
rather than, individual beneficiary approach
so as to forge partnerships for assistance
delivery and recovery with actors on the
ground in these communities.
The increasing migration of IDPs, refugees•
and other undocumented migrants to cit-
ies is creating additional challenges to al-
ready marginalized communities in informal
settlements and slums which host most of
these migrants. Pressure on urban admin-
istrations and governance is a growing is-
sue for both humanitarians and beneficiary
communities.
The natural linkages between cities and•
their peri-urban and rural communities in
terms of flow of people, goods and services
is another distinctive feature of urban areas
for responses.
The great majority of tools, approaches,•
policies and practices for humanitarian re-
sponses are designed for rural settings. Al-
though many have been adapted for urban
areas, their scaling-up and the development
of new tools to fill gaps among humanitar-
The complexity of
urban areas pose
challenges in terms
of varied partners
but also presents
an opportunity
for productive
partnerships for
relief assistance
delivery. This
complexity,
compared to rural
settings, demands a
deeper knowledge of
the spatial and social
structure of cities
and the potential
for stronger
partnerships
with municipal
and national
governments,
civil society and
communities.
7. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
3
ians is essential to enhance the impact of
humanitarian assistance in urban areas.
The urban skills required for effective relief,•
recovery and reconstruction in urban areas
vary from rural settings. Humanitarian ac-
tors need knowledge of urban and spatial
planning, shelter/housing rehabilitation and
water and sanitation adapted for operations
in complex, dense and under-serviced urban
environments. In addition, knowledge of ur-
ban vulernability and community resilience
analyses, beneficiary targeting approaches,
land use and tenure patterns, strategic plan-
ning for urban relief strategy development
and engagement of national and municipal
authorities are all increasingly essential skills
for urban crises responses.
What is different about
urban-based humanitarian
challenges and risks
compared to rural ones
which compel the need for
new approaches?
Rapid, uncontrolled urban growth and•
densely populated informal settlements in
hazard-prone locations, together with the
failure of urban authorities to regulate build-
ing standards and land-use planning strate-
gies, render significant numbers of people
vulnerable to humanitarian crises of even
moderate intensity. Over-crowding and
large scale of informal settlements make the
design and delivery of humanitarian relief
more complex compared to rural areas.
Urban humanitarian crises, typically epi-•
demics, mass evictions, and urban violence
unfold in these poorer, denser settlements
compounded by the close proximity of indi-
viduals and communities and by severe de-
privation - the lack of decent shelter on safe
and affordable land, limited access to basic
services like clean water and sanitation, pri-
mary health care and education, and by ex-
treme inequality and exclusion.
Complex yet fragile urban economies and•
service systems are particularly susceptible
to widespread impacts of disasters or emer-
gencies – destruction of livelihoods of poor
urban households and infrastructure and
communication systems, loss of food pro-
duction and disruption of supplies and ser-
vices to rural areas.
Urban areas are centers of political power•
and contestation over scarce resources such
as land, water and employment. These
characteristics can generate insecurity if civil
protection is not effectively in place, making
cities, and social groups such as women and
children, particularly vulnerable in cases of
natural disasters, conflict and other forms
of violence carried out by armed groups,
gangs, drug cartels or crime syndicates.
Identifying and targeting beneficiaries for•
humanitarian assistance in cities are particu-
larly problematic for many humanitarians.
Access to densely populated urban areas is
often difficult. Conventional methods of
needs assessment do not adequately distin-
guish between the ongoing chronic needs
of poor urban households and the more
acute vulnerability provoked by a disaster.
It is faster growing small and medium-sized•
cities in the developing world which are both
less equipped to deal with the problems of
urbanization and urban-rural linkages with
the impacts of natural disasters or complex
emergencies.
The urban skills
required for effective
relief, recovery and
reconstruction in
urban areas vary
from rural settings.
Humanitarian
actors need
knowledge of
urban and
spatial planning,
shelter/housing
rehabilitation
and water and
sanitation adapted
for operations in
complex, dense
and under-
serviced urban
environments.
8. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
4
Strategic Objective
1
III. THE STRATEGY
“Recent experience
in the aftermath of
floods in Manila
demonstrates
that joint
implementation
plans with host
governments and
service providers,
including the
private sector, are
most effective if
forged prior to an
emergency.”
This Strategy is composed of six strategic ob-
jectives for enhancing humanitarian assistance
and saving lives and livelihoods in urban areas.
The objectives are divided into two broad cat-
egories:
Get the Humanitarian Response Priorities•
and Initial Strategies Right
Maximize Sustainability of the Humanitarian•
Response
Each strategic objective is discussed in terms of
issues and gaps and recommended actions.
A. Get the
Humanitarian
Response Priorities
and Initial
Strategies Right
Develop Operational
Strategies Early-on that
Ensure Multi-stakeholder
Partnerships for Enhanced
Coordination, Impact and
Effectiveness of Humanitarian
Assistance in Urban Areas
Issues and Gaps
Based on country case studies1
and prior IASC
experience, humanitarian assistance can be
more effective when clear and effective strate-
gies for multi-stakeholder partnerships are de-
veloped prior to a crisis in a high-risk setting
or as early at the outset of an emergency as
possible. The stakeholders in these partner-
ships should include: host national and local
governments, disaster response agencies, na-
tional NGO, civil society and business actors in
urban areas. These strategies need to recog-
nize that the host government must lead, or
at a minimum coordinate, an emergency re-
sponse. This can maximize the use of available
institutional capacity for assistance delivery,
build local ownership, diminish dependency
1 IASC Task Force on Meeting Humanitarian Challenges in Urban
Areas Case Studies for Nairobi/Eldoret, Manila and Haiti, May-June,
2010
on assistance and avoid creation of parallel
response structures. Findings from the recent
Haiti six-month post-earthquake evaluation
substantiate the need for local ownership in
spite of the loss of government capacity.
International actors usually activate a first
phase rapid strategic assessment of the
scale and scope of the emergency and host
country capacity (usually within the first 48
hours), and then a first phase strategic ac-
tion plan (within the next 48 hours). These
need to build on in-country capacity among
government and NGO partners, even when
diminished by a crisis. Key sectors for most
emergencies include: WASH, Health, Shelter,
Food Security and Protection of Vulnerable
Groups.
Recent experience in the aftermath of floods
in Manila demonstrates that joint implementa-
tion plans with host governments and service
providers, including the private sector, are most
effective if forged prior to an emergency. This
is because agencies are reluctant to take the
time required to plan when confronted with
an emergency and resort to pre-established
(pre-emergency) ways of doing business.
The advantage to humanitarians in these part-
nerships is that host government agencies and
local interlocutors2
can better ensure that
assistance reaches intended beneficiary
communities transparently and effective-
ly because they possess:
knowledge of the hazards and vulnerabili-•
ties of beneficiary communities
institutional resources to complement deliv-•
ery of assistance by international actors
community outreach capacity to reach and•
to engage the most vulnerable beneficiaries
parallel responsibilities in development sec-•
tors to sustain relief investments in disaster
risk management, early recovery and recon-
struction.
Humanitarian actors should be prepared for
‘governance gaps’ and manage these through
their operational strategies.
Up-front streamlining decision-making and•
2 Actors include: local governments, service agencies, line departments
of national and provincial governments, urban councils, faith-based
groups, private sector interests and community based organizations,
police departments, health institutions and in cases of disasters, enti-
ties especially designated to address relief and reconstruction.
9. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
5
Strategic Objective
2
identifying clear, accountable roles are im-
portant to strengthen coordination and re-
duce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Because disasters, urban violence or conflict•
can severely weaken local capacity, humani-
tarians need to support these functions at
the outset of a response, as the post-earth-
quake Haiti experience pointed out.
The arrival or presence of large numbers of•
NGOs, with varying levels of expertise, can
present additional coordination challenges.
Recent complex emergencies and natural di-
sasters in Pakistan, Haiti and Kyrgyzstan dem-
onstrate the importance of communities and
host families to saving lives when they sup-
port affected populations. They can be critical
to building resilience of communities and in
provision of essential services. However, host
families themselves are usually highly vulnera-
ble, since they reside in the same under-served
settlements to which migrants flee. Vulner-
ability is accentuated in communities already
stressed through over-stretched WASH and
diminished food stocks, including through lost
urban agriculture and livestock. A more sys-
tematic assessment and approach to support-
ing host families as partners in humanitarian
responses is a high priority for IASC agencies
and other humanitarian actors. Findings from
the recent Haiti disaster indicate that putting
communities at the core of an integrated re-
sponse yields higher impacts.
Recommended Actions
Develop a simple framework to: (a) map
all stakeholders involved and their capacities
(including ministries/departments at national
and/or municipal levels, IASC actors, disaster
response and management actors, develop-
ment actors who have roles in response and
early recovery, donors, NGOs, civil society and
private sector groups) and (b) identify exist-
ing and means to strengthen coordination and
partnership with humanitarians in the event of
a crisis, with due consideration of the leader-
ship and coordination role of host government
institutions. (Action Lead: UN HABITAT, OCHA
Kenya, OCHA Nepal, OCHA/UNCT Colombia;
Support: UNDP, IWG (Catholic Relief Services
in Kenya/Mercy Corps in Nepal) with local and
international NGOs, FAO/WFP/UNICEF and
UNCT/HCT Kenya and Nepal)
Pilot the framework in at least two at-risk
cities/countries including a review of syner-
gies, gaps and existing and needed processes
for collaboration and productive relationships,
including opportunities for capacity build-
ing. (Action Lead: UN HABITAT, OCHA Kenya,
OCHA Nepal, OCHA/UNCT Colombia; Sup-
port: UNDP, IWG (Catholic Relief Services in
Kenya/Mercy Corps in Nepal) with local and
international NGOs, FAO/WFP/UNICEF and
UNCT/HCT Kenya and Nepal)
After two years of implementation of pilots
for partnership-building for humanitarian re-
sponses, assess results, lessons learned and
task relevant humanitarian actors to main-
stream coordination mechanisms into their
operations, including contingency planning
system-wide, to strengthen responses in even-
tual urban emergencies. (Action Lead: OCHA
Kenya and OCHA Nepal, UNCT Colombia, UN
HABITAT, UNDP, local and international NGOs;
Support: UNCT/HCT Kenya and Nepal)
Compile good practices, identify gaps and
develop guidance for community-based sup-
port and capacity-building in urban areas, in-
cluding host families’ support, displaced and
not displaced for broader dissemination and
accessibility by humanitarian actors in order
to deepen the impact of humanitarian assis-
tance. (Action Lead: IFRC and UNICEF; Sup-
port: UN HABITAT, ICRC, FAO, WFP, NGOs and
UNCT/HCTs)
Strengthen Technical Surge
Capacity for Emergency
Responses in Urban-based
Challenges
Issues and Gaps
With the increasing number of natural disasters
and complex emergencies in urban contexts,
it is important for IASC, Red Cross/Crescent
Movement and other humanitarians to upgrade
the skills of their staffs to address urban-based
challenges, particularly in first responses.
Recent emergencies in post-earthquake Haiti,
Kenya and Pakistan point out the inadequacy
of urban expertise and technical skills among
first responders. This inadequacy contributed
to the reduced effectiveness of relief assis-
tance. Gaps included:
Technical Knowledge Gaps: Identification•
of land for temporary shelter, urban WASH,
land ownership and tenure issues, urban
planning for reconstruction, urban food and
nutrition security, debris removal and simi-
lar urban shelter, land, infrastructure and
protection challenges. Getting strategies,
humanitarian responses and early recovery
Because disasters,
urban violence
or conflict can
severely weaken
local capacity,
humanitarians
need to support
these functions
at the outset of a
response, as the post-
earthquake Haiti
experience pointed
out.
10. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
6
strategies right from the start requires that
these skills be part of the mix among first
responders.
Slow deployment of sufficient numbers of•
experienced staff with appropriate technical
skills
Lack of or slow deployment of sufficiently•
experienced Shelter Cluster Leads and urban
advisors to coordinate the multiplicity of ac-
tors, including providing guidance in build-
ing collaboration among NGOs and private
sector groups through a common strategy.
This task is usually complex in urban con-
texts with the greater number of actors.
Recommended Actions
Build stand-by technical capacity, by revising
existing or developing templates of technical
TORs and rosters of qualified consultants for
long and short term deployments in key ur-
ban technical areas such as land management
and tenure, urban WASH rehabilitation, tran-
sitional shelter and rehabilitation, urban food
and nutrition security, urban planning, debris
removal as well as skills to coordinate the mul-
tiplicity of urban actors in cooperation with
local/national governments. (Action Lead: UN
HABITAT, Protection Cluster AOR for HLP; Sup-
port: FAO, WFP and interested NGO partners,
PROCAP and GENCAP roster managers)
IASC agencies and other humanitarian ac-
tors consider strengthening inter-agency part-
nerships to share expertise in urban WASH,
land and transitional shelter solutions, urban
planning, urban food and nutrition security,
including the merits of expanding the current
IFRC/UN HABITAT Partnership model as one
approach for shelter humanitarian responses
cooperation. (Action Lead : UN HABITAT; Sup-
port: IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO, WFP and
NGOs)
Develop TORs for Shelter and Urban Ad-
visors to be recruited in support of HCs to
guide urban policy and program interventions
of the HCT in shelter, land and urban WASH
and urban food and nutrition security. This is
important in UNCT/HCTs where there is no or
weak urban or shelter expertise at the time of
a crisis. (Action Lead: UN HABITAT, Support:
OCHA)
Expand the training of Humanitarian Co-
ordinators and eventually key HCT staffs to
include urban issues and approaches (Action
Lead: OCHA; Support: UN HABITAT)
5 Review and revise new staff recruitment pri-
orities to bring on-board new staff or to train
existing staff in urban skills such as land man-
agement and tenure, urban WASH rehabilita-
tion, transitional shelter, shelter rehabilitation,
urban food and nutrition security, protection
and related areas. (Action Lead: IASC Mem-
ber Agencies, Support: UN HABITAT)
Strategic Objective
3 Develop or Adapt
Humanitarian Approaches
and Tools for Urban Areas
Issues and Gaps
In support of this Strategy’s development, an
assessment of tools, approaches and guide-
lines used by IASC agencies and others to ad-
dress urban humanitarian challenges was un-
dertaken. The assessment reviewed the use
of tools and guidelines for: assessing needs,
beneficiary targeting, effective response de-
sign and monitoring response performance.
This was complemented by field assessments
and case studies of Manila, Nairobi, Eldoret
(Kenya) and Haiti (desk study) to identify
good practices and gaps in addressing urban
crises. Although not exhaustive, the assess-
ment offers a representative sample of tools
that humanitarians found useful for pro-
gramming and targeting assistance. Virtually
all of these useful practices and tools were
developed predominantly for rural areas.
While some of these have been successfully
adapted, experiences in Kenya, Philippines
and Haiti indicate that new tools are also re-
quired for urban areas. Development of hu-
manitarian guidance and tools in the future
should ensure that urban issues are better
addressed.
Good Practice Tools and Approaches:
SOPs and Rapid Assessments: SOPs in
Emergencies (ICRC/IFRC), Aerial surveys (inter-
Agency), Rapid Assessment Tool (UNICEF),
Needs Analysis/Framework with urban indica-
tors (OCHA), Rapid Health Assessment (WHO),
Global Risk Identification Program (UNDP)
Vulnerability, Targeting, Enumerating,
Profiling and Registering of IDP/Refugees:
Participatory Protection Appraisal-PPA (UNH-
CR), IDP Urban Profiling (IDMC), Vulnerability
and Capacity Assessment (IFRC), Heightened
Risk Identification Tool (UNHCR), Psychological
Needs Assessment in Emergency Displacement
(IOM), Joint IDP Profiling Service (NRC-IDMC,
IASC agencies and
other humanitarian
actors to consider
strengthening inter-
agency partnerships
to share expertise in
urban WASH, land
and transitional
shelter solutions,
urban planning,
urban food and
nutrition security,
including the merits
of expanding the
current IFRC/
UN HABITAT
Partnership
model as one
approach for shelter
humanitarian
responses
cooperation.
11. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
7
UNFPA, IOM, OCHA, UNHCR, DRC), Urban Pi-
lot Project (UNHCR)
Food Security: Emergency Food Security As-
sessments (WFP, FAO), Market Analysis tools
for cash or food-for-work, food vouchers, cash
transfers – EMMA, Stand-by Contracts with Lo-
cal Suppliers instead of stockpiling relief items
(WFP, IFRC, World Vision, Oxfam), Integrated
Food Security Phase Classifications (FAO)
Livelihoods: Sustainable Livelihoods Assess-
ment Tool Kit and Approach (FAO/ILO), micro-
finance, cash for livelihoods grants, vocational
training and others can be adapted for differ-
ent livelihoods contexts in urban or peri-urban
areas.
Emergency Shelter: Shelter Kits and other
shelter assistance methods, including tents pro-
vision (IFRC, UNHCR, IOM, UN HABITAT), Local
Estimate of Needs for Shelter and Settlement
– LENSS (Emergency Shelter Cluster), Haiti
Community Participatory Approach to Shelter
Site Selection and Design (UN HABITAT), Haiti
Return Strategy (Shelter and Early Recovery
Clusters), Risk Mapping for Shelter Response
Planning (UN HABITAT, UNDP, IFRC, UNHCR)
WASH: WASH upgrading in schools and in-
tensified hygiene awareness (UNICEF and
NGOs), various approaches to emergency,
portable water, toilet provision and waste
management
Health: SPEED Pilot system for improved
health surveillance to track/report epidemio-
logical outbreaks (HCT-Manila), Health Servic-
es Availability and Regional Health Risk Map-
ping (WHO)
Protection/Violence: Restoring Family Links
in Disasters (ICRC), Global Strategy on Vio-
lence (IFRC), Participatory Protection Appraisal
(Protection Cluster), Safe Houses (UNHCR),
Provisional Program Guide on Coexistence
(UNHCR), Assistance to Street Children (Save
the Children/ECHO), Gender-based Violence
Information Management System (UNHCR,
UNFPA, IRC)
Gaps in Tools and Approaches: There is a
need for urban-specific operational strate-
gies and tools in all the key humanitarian sec-
tors including WASH, Food Security, Shelter,
Health and Protection. Some of the significant
gaps are:
Vulnerability and Resilience Assessments:
Based on earlier IASC WG recommendations1
,
1 a) The Global Public Policy Institute and Groupe Urgence-Rehabilita-
there is an urgent need for standardized and
improved rapid vulnerability and resilience as-
sessments in order to design and target hu-
manitarian relief to be most effective and to
accelerate recovery. One out of three urban
residents or one billion people worldwide live
in densely populated slums or marginal infor-
mal settlements whose vulnerability is high
and severely exacerbated by emergencies.
Nonetheless, resilience of communities needs
to also be recognized and built upon so as to
strengthen coping mechanisms, livelihoods
and social networks that mitigate negative im-
pacts. These rapid assessments should simply
define, assess and map the vulnerabilities and
resilience of different groups and how they
might be affected by a humanitarian emer-
gency. Key elements of these vulnerability as-
sessments should include:
Who are vulnerable groups in the affected•
urban settings, displaced and non-displaced
residents, considering that vulnerabilities
and those affected vary by urban setting
and crisis?
What are the vulnerabilities they experience•
including multi-risk/hazard mapping?
What ‘triggers’ distinguish acute vulnerabil-•
ity from chronic urban poverty?
The nature of resilience - immediate resourc-•
es, coping mechanisms and community sup-
port networks that vulnerable people use.
The ground-breaking work in developing ur-
ban vulnerability indicators for chronic emer-
gency contexts in close partnership with na-
tional, municipal and civil society partners,
being developed by the HCT in Nairobi, could
help inform this work.
Targeting, Enumerating and Register-
ing Affected Populations, including IDP/
Refugees: A variety of tools and approaches
already exist to identify, register, protect and
target assistance to affected populations, in-
cluding urban IDPs and refugees and identify
hidden groups. Urban specific challenges
include population density and distinguish-
ing people of concern from those in chronic
or acute poverty. Some available tools are not
used widely enough and have not been ad-
equately scaled up. Based upon experiences in
emergencies in urban areas, tools for target-
tion-Developpement, IASC Cluster Approach Evaluation 2nd Phase,
Synthesis Report, April 2010, page 56.
www.gppi.net/fileadmin/gppi/GPPi-URD_Cluster_II_Evaluation_SYN-
THESIS_REPORT_e.pdf
b) IASC Guidance Note on Using the Cluster Approach to Strengthen
Humanitarian Response, November 2006, notably recommendation
15.
www.humanitarianreform.org/humanitarianreform/.../cluster%20
approach%20page/.../..
There is a need
for urban-specific
operational
strategies and
tools in all the key
humanitarian
sectors including
WASH, Food
Security, Shelter,
Health and
Protection.
12. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
8
Strategic Objective
4
ing assistance to individuals and communities
in urban areas need to be better adapted and
refined.
Emergency Shelter: Transitional shelter and
relocation/resettlement solutions need to ac-
count for housing, land and property (HLP)
complexities, land tenure security and host
family support for shelter assistance. Ap-
proaches to urban rubble removal and dis-
posal need to be developed to free land for
transitional or permanent shelter construction
(Haiti RTE)
WASH: Scaling-up of the innovative ap-
proaches being tested in Nairobi and Manila,
such as de-sludging technologies, pre-iden-
tified waste disposal landfills and upgrading
school sanitary facilities.
Food Security: Urban Food Security Needs
Assessments for the most vulnerable and af-
fected populations need refinement as well as
urban Market-based Approaches to provide
Food Security Assistance, including guidance
on cash, vouchers, food fairs, food produc-
tion and similar tools in urban areas. Food aid
needs to consider the challenges of food prep-
aration, distribution and urban-based agricul-
tural production in limited and very crowded
urban neighborhoods as well as security risks
related to stocking of large rations.
Livelihoods: Scale-up existing innovative
tools, such as microfinance and small business
support, and more effectively target them in
urban areas, including through strengthened
partnerships with local communities and pri-
vate sector. New tools for enhanced natural
resources management and adaptation in dif-
fering livelihood contexts in urban and peri-
urban areas.
Health: Scaling up Health Vulnerability and
Risk Analysis and Mapping (VRAM)
Protection/Violence: Scale-up the Participa-
tory Protection Appraisal
Preparedness: Update UN and NGO country
preparedness and contingency plans, in co-
operation with national authorities. Develop
tools for pre-crisis actor mapping, including
identification of stand-by agency and govern-
ment staff with urban experience for rapid de-
ployment and coordination
Recommended Actions
Develop a methodology with indicators
across sectors for understanding and identi-
fying urban vulnerability and resilience in the
design and delivery of humanitarian programs
in at-risk countries. (Action Lead: IASC Needs
Assessment Task Force; Support: UN HABITAT,
NGOs and UNCT/HCTs)
Broaden the Rapid Protection Assessment
Toolkit (RPAT) under development to incorpo-
rate urban vulnerability analysis (Action Lead:
UNHCR and Protection Cluster; Support: NGOs
and UNCT/HCTs))
Promote improved knowledge manage-
ment of urban tools and methodologies by
creating a repository of useful tools and sup-
porting data bases for use in urban emergen-
cies for wider dissemination and accessibility
by humanitarian agencies and public. Ensure
quality control, user-friendly repository design
and update of materials. (Action Lead: UN
HABITAT and NGOs; Support: Humanitarian
Partners)
Identify approaches to land needs for tran-
sitional shelter, long-term resettlement and
sustainable livelihoods. This should include
reviews of land rights, tenure types, occupan-
cy rights and land availability in cities. (Ac-
tion Lead: Shelter and Early Recovery Clusters;
Support: IASC agencies and NGOs)
Promote Protection of
Vulnerable Urban Populations
against Violence and
Exploitation
Issues and Gaps
The security and protection needs of affected
populations constitute one of the most signifi-
cant differences between rural and urban set-
tings. The pressure on services and livelihoods
from urban-based emergencies on poor urban
households in densely populated towns can
exacerbate poverty and discrimination leading
to the incidence of violence and exploitation.
Growing urban violence accentuates vulner-
ability of poor urban populations through the
destruction of basic infrastructure, displace-
ment, destroyed livelihoods as well as increas-
ing mortality and morbidity through injuries,
disrupted food supply, malnutrition and weak-
ening of health systems. These same condi-
tions arise in the aftermath of crises precipitat-
ing an increase in urban violence as affected
populations compete for scarce life-saving re-
sources such as food, water and shelter.
Women may be subject to additional vio-
Scaling-up of
the innovative
approaches being
tested in Nairobi
and Manila, such
as de-sludging
technologies, pre-
identified waste
disposal landfills
and upgrading
school sanitary
facilities.
13. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
9
Strategic Objective
5
lence – rape, domestic violence and sexual
exploitation. Vulnerable people, and especially
children, who may be separated from their
families face psychological trauma. Children
and adolescents can be vulnerable to recruit-
ment by rebel armed forces and joining armed
gangs. Humanitarians can diminish the in-
centives for involvement of young people in
urban violence through improved urban liveli-
hood and employment opportunities in relief
and early recovery operations.
Out of fear of harassment, detention and pos-
sible refoulement many populations live in
precarious legal status, reducing and often
impeding their access to official mechanisms
of protection (police, courts and ombuds-
men). Similarly, urban refugees may be un-
registered and undocumented in contrast to
encamped refugees in rural areas. Many IDPs
who become dispersed in urban areas or wish
to remain anonymous may also miss out on
registration for assistance and protection.
Targeting assistance runs the risk of offer-
ing preferential treatment to those displaced
people who can be indentified and registered,
thereby increasing the potential for tension
and conflict with other city dwellers not re-
ceiving relief assistance. At the same time tar-
geting may expose households and individuals
who wish to remain concealed. A community-
based approach may be more appropriate to
address these sensitivities.
Human rights protection and security are
government prerogatives and responsibilities
through their national and municipal institu-
tions and legal frameworks. Humanitarian ac-
tors have a key role to play in supporting these
responsibilities and in monitoring adherence.
Some innovative approaches have been devel-
oped such as the UNHCR’s new urban refugee
policy2
.
Strategic policies and operational tools are
needed to improve urban-specific protection
strategies to limit the effects of urban violence.
Approaches are being developed by global
and local protection clusters, including ICRC
and collaborating Red Cross/Crescent societ-
ies. Innovative approaches are being used in
Nairobi and Bogota which address two strate-
gic dimensions:
General protection and security needs for•
urban communities and specific groups such
as children or women threatened by conflict
or localised violence carried out by armed ac-
2 UNHCR: Policy on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas,
UNHCR Geneva Sept 2009 www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?p
age=search&docid=4ab356ab6&query=urban%20refugees
tors, gangs, drug cartels, crime syndicates.
The protection needs for increasing numbers•
of refugees and IDPs who migrate to cities.
A key issue is to find ways of working in situ-•
ations where governments might be associ-
ated with the violence against communities
and are thus part of the protection issue for
vulnerable groups and migrants.
Recommended Actions
Ensure that protection assessment meth-
odologies created by the Protection Cluster,
among them the Rapid Protection Assessment
Tool kit, include the ability to identify and ad-
dress concerns of affected populations in ur-
ban areas and broadly disseminate tool for
use by the humanitarian community. (Action
Lead: UNHCR; Support: Humanitarian Actors)
Develop, as needed, new policies and
strengthen existing policies and operational
tools to engage authorities on their obliga-
tions under human rights or refugee law in
situations of urban violence or to mitigate
the effects of such violence on at-risk popula-
tions.
Work with local partners to reinforce access
for the most vulnerable to existing monitoring
and conciliatory mechanisms that safeguard
individual or community rights at the munici-
pal level.
In crisis contexts, reinforce the dialogue
with local enforcement agencies to prioritize
measures of physical protection of ‘at-risk’
groups, including IDPs and refugees, women
and children.
B. Maximize Sustainability of
the Humanitarian Response
Restore Livelihoods and
Economic Opportunities
as a Priority, starting in
the Emergency Phase for
Expedited Early Recovery in
Urban Areas
Issues and Gaps
Emergency activities need to more system-
atically enable crisis-affected households and
communities to restore their livelihoods rapid-
ly and sustainably. Recent post-earthquake ex-
“ The pressure
on services and
livelihoods from
urban-based
emergencies on poor
urban households in
densely populated
towns can
exacerbate poverty
and discrimination
leading to the
incidence of violence
and exploitation.”
14. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
10
Strategic Objective
6
perience in Haiti demonstrates the importance
of restoring cash flow through temporary em-
ployment to accelerate recovery and diminish
dependence on humanitarian aid.
Livelihood restoration in response strategies
can also be strengthened by:
supporting the• shelter reconstruction
process, resuscitating self-build methods,
providing technical and logistical support to
local partners, giving guidance on building
standards for building back better with re-
duced risk and providing financial assistance.
This is a vital element in the post-earthquake
Haiti and Pakistan relief programs.
facilitating• recovery of food supply chains
and distribution systems, assisting price
stability through subsidies, promoting urban
agriculture and livestock, reducing second-
ary impacts (eg food insecurity and severe
nutritional deficits), rebuilding local markets
and food or cash-for-work programs.
leveraging local suppliers and contrac-•
tors, thereby preventing local livelihoods
being crowded out by larger commercial
and corporate enterprises.
enhancing the• role of protection mea-
sures for physical security of assets and pro-
tection from violence and extortion.
ensuring an appropriate level of natural re-•
sources management and mitigating nega-
tive environmental impacts.
ensuring gender sensitivity in approaches•
and more inclusion of the needs of urban
youth.
A recent ALNAP review highlighted several
principles which should guide humanitarian
actors in supporting livelihood restoration as
part of an emergency response3
. The liveli-
hoods approach involves participatory meth-
ods, local ownership of strategies and gender
and youth sensitivity.
3 ALNAP summary principles guiding humanitarian actors in re-
establishing local economies and livelihoods:
working with or through organizations of long standing in the•
area, which already have an understanding of livelihoods
supporting aid delivery that uses and builds on local capacities,•
thereby limiting the use of external personnel, and reducing costs
taking time to understand how the urban poor are coping, and•
designing aid programs to support these household initiatives to
build ownership
using participatory approaches in all stages of programming•
assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring and evalu-
ation
recognizing the importance of rural–urban linkages in providing•
opportunities to deal with disasters in either locale.
Source: ALNAP Responding to urban disasters: Learning from previous
relief and recovery operations,2009 page 17 www.alnap.org/pool/files/
alnap-provention-lessons-urban.pdf
Recommended Actions
Develop guidance on supporting food and
nutrition security in post-crisis urban and peri-
urban areas (Action Lead: FAO and WFP; Sup-
port: UNCT/HCTs and NGOs)
Complete the development of programming
and policy guidelines for mainstreaming multi-
year urban household livelihood recovery and
right to work for urban refugees and share
broadly with humanitarian partners, including
through training programs, for possible adap-
tation to non-refugee and other emergency
operations. (Action Lead: UNHCR; Support:
Humanitarian Actors)
Develop guidelines for working with local
police and security and regulatory authorities
to strengthen measures to protect households’
livelihood assets, safety of household mem-
bers and protection from exploitation during
emergencies (Action Lead: Early Recovery
Cluster, Support: UNCT/HCTs).
Build Preparedness into
Humanitarian Assistance
Policies for more Effective
Emergency Responses
that Save More Lives and
Livelihoods in Urban Areas
Issues and Gaps
Because cities are home to large populations
(over 3 billion of the world’s total population)
living at high densities and in impoverished
conditions, the potential impact of emergen-
cies can be huge in terms of loss of life and
economic assets. At the same time, cities gen-
erally provide a higher, although variable, level
of human and institutional resources to draw
upon for the delivery of emergency responses
and longer term community resilience.
The increasing incidence of rapid onset disas-
ters attributed to climate change – through
extreme weather events - is further impover-
ishing the lives of one billion urban residents
living in slums and informal settlements. Over
60% of coastal areas are prone to climate
change-induced rising sea levels. Climate
change and its impacts on cities are predicted
to cause more frequent disasters and humani-
tarian emergencies, both sudden and slow
onset. Desertification will precipitate loss of
cities generally
provide a higher,
although variable,
level of human
and institutional
resources to draw
upon for the delivery
of emergency
responses and longer
term community
resilience.
15. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
11
livelihoods and push poor households to mi-
grate to urban areas increasing the numbers
of people vulnerable to crises by further stress-
ing already insufficient services. Vulnerability
may be exacerbated by climate change im-
pacts in urban areas through the disruption of
fragile economic livelihoods, urban communi-
cations and supply chains. Climate variability
resulting in extreme events area a continuing
concern, as recent Manila and Pakistan floods
and droughts in the Horn of Africa and Sahel
demonstrate.
The scale and often unpredictable location of
urban-based humanitarian crises underscore
the need for preparedness, risk management
and contingency planning to be fully incorpo-
rated into a humanitarian strategy for at-risk
urban areas. Protection of natural resources
is essential to contingency planning. Security
and protection of populations, including urban
violence related to crises, is a significant gap
in humanitarian action that can be addressed
through better preparedness. Evidence over
many years confirms beneficial impacts of
preparedness in lowered overall costs of relief
assistance, reduced loss of life and livelihoods
and enhanced capacity to rebuild faster with
safer techniques by building on local capaci-
ties and resilience.
Urban preparedness planning and strategies
need to address the following:
Develop a risk and vulnerability analysis and•
early warning capacity, including mapping
‘community hotspots’ and potential crises
induced by extreme climate events
Strengthen contingency planning and part-•
nership-building in advance of an urban cri-
sis, including community resilience mecha-
nisms with gender and youth sensitivity
Improve prepositioning of emergency stocks•
of food, temporary shelter, health providers
and preparing logistics chains and establish-
ing ‘pro-forma’ contracts with local provid-
ers
Define roles and responsibilities of different•
actors and mapping of capacities
Strengthen citizen security, community po-•
licing and monitoring roles by CSOs
Build the capacity of partner national and•
local governments in responses and pre-
paredness
Link humanitarian tools of urban-based•
preparedness to early recovery and develop-
mental goals through regular information-
sharing and sustainable programs
Recommended Actions
Prepare a coherent and programmatic im-
plementation plan for the strategic objective,
including an assessment of the often frag-
mented, urban preparedness tools and ap-
proaches to identify existing good practices.
(Action Lead: UN HABITAT; Support: Prepared-
ness sub-WG, IWG (Mercy Corps), UNDP,
IFRC, ISDR, FAO and UNCT/HCTs Colombia
and Nepal)
Pilot test the implementation plan in one
or two at-risk cities which would put national
and municipal authorities in leadership while
identifying areas for coordination on prepared-
ness based on their capacities and potential
response. Synergies should be encouraged
in those countries where multi-stakeholder
partnership frameworks are being developed
under Strategic Objective 1. Both exercises
will contribute to revising country/city contin-
gency planning and complement the planned
five-country national preparedness strength-
ening activity of the Sub-Working Group on
Preparedness. Among potential, initial at-risk
pilot cities are Kathmandu and Bogota. (Ac-
tion Lead: UN HABITAT; Support: Preparedness
sub-WG, UNDP, IWG (Mercy Corps), IFRC,
ISDR, FAO and UNCT/HCTs Colombia and Ne-
pal)
Expand the OCHA ‘Global Focus Model’
from national-level comparisons to prioritize
preparedness for the most-at-risk cities and
areas within cities (Action Lead: OCHA, Sup-
port: UNCT/HCTs)
The Inter-Agency Working Group of inter-
national humanitarian NGOs (IWG)4
has
proposed the following in support of this
Strategy’s and Action Plan’s implementa-
tion:
World Vision International (WVI) will main-•
tain a liaison role between IWG agencies
and the IASC regarding the Meeting Hu-
manitarian Challenges in Urban Areas strat-
egy implementation.
Catholic Relief Services in Nairobi and Mercy•
4 The Inter-Agency Working Group (IWG) on Emergency Capacity was
formed in 2003 to address the challenge of increasing magnitude
and complexity of disasters and the capacity of the international
NGOs with humanitarian mandates to respond to this challenge.
The IWG is composed of emergency directors from 7 agencies -
CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, International Rescue
Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam GB, Save the Children and World
Vision International - and discusses the most persistent obstacles in
humanitarian aid delivery, including in urban areas. In October, 2010,
the IWG members reviewed the draft IASC Final Strategy for Meet-
ing Humanitarian Challenges in Urban Areas and identified areas for
collaboration.
Develop a risk
and vulnerability
analysis and early
warning capacity,
including mapping
‘community hotspots’
and potential crises
induced by extreme
climate events
16. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
12
Corps in Kathmandu will share information
on related work with IWG member agencies
and NGO’s with OCHA and UN HABITAT for
the pilot frameworks for urban partnership
and emergency planning and strategies de-
velopment in Kenya and Nepal.
OXFAM, America, supported by WVI, will•
inventory urban emergency engagements
by IWG agencies. This information will be
used to link IWG agencies, knowledge base
and experience in urban emergencies more
effectively with the IASC urban strategy
framework and resources.
17. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
13
Strategic Objective Recommended Action Agencies Responsible
Strategic Objective 1: Develop
Operational Strategies early-on
that ensure multi-stakeholder
partnerships for enhanced
coordination, impact and
effectiveness of humanitarian
assistance in urban areas
1.1 Develop a simple framework to: (a) map all stakeholders
involved and their capacities (including ministries/
departments at national and/or municipal levels, IASC actors,
disaster response and management actors, development
actors who have roles in response and early recovery,
donors, NGOs, civil society and private sector groups) and (b)
identify existing and means to strengthen coordination and
partnership with humanitarians in the event of a crisis, with
due consideration of the leadership and coordination role of
host government institutions.
1.2 Pilot the framework in at least two at-risk cities/countries
including a review of synergies, gaps and existing and
needed processes for collaboration and productive
relationships, including opportunities for capacity building.
1.3 Compile good practices, identify gaps and develop guidance
for community-based support and capacity-building in
urban areas, including host families’ support, displaced and
not displaced for broader dissemination and accessibility
by humanitarian actors in order to deepen the impact of
humanitarian assistance.
1.1 Action Lead: OCHA Kenya,
OCHA Nepal, OCHA/UNCT
Colombia; Support: UN
HABITAT, UNDP, IWG (Catholic
Relief Services in Kenya/Mercy
Corps in Nepal) with local and
international NGOs, FAO/WFP/
UNICEF and UNCT/HCT Kenya
and Nepal
1.2 Action Lead: OCHA Kenya,
OCHA Nepal, OCHA/UNCT
Colombia; Support: UN
HABITAT, UNDP, IWG (Catholic
Relief Services in Kenya/Mercy
Corps in Nepal) with local and
international NGOs, FAO/WFP/
UNICEF and UNCT/HCT Kenya
and Nepal
1.3 Action Lead: IFRC and UNICEF;
Support: ICRC, UN HABITAT,
IWG, FAO,WFP, NGOs and
UNCT/HCTs
Strategic Objective 2: Strengthen
Technical Surge Capacity for
Emergency Response in Urban-
based Challenges
2.1 Build stand-by technical capacity, by revising existing or
developing templates of technical TORs and rosters of
qualified consultants for long and short term deployments
in key urban technical areas such as land management and
tenure, urban WASH rehabilitation, transitional shelter and
rehabilitation, urban food and nutrition security, rubble
removal as well as skills to coordinate the multiplicity of
urban actors in cooperation with local/national governments
2.2 IASC agencies and other humanitarian actors consider
strengthening inter-agency partnerships to share expertise
in urban WASH, urban food and nutrition security, land
and transitional shelter solutions, including the merits
of expanding the current IFRC/UN HABITAT Partnership
model as one approach for shelter humanitarian responses
cooperation.
2.1 Action Lead: UN HABITAT,
Protection Cluster AOR for
HLP; Support: FAO,WFP and
interested NGO partners;
PROCAP and GENCAP roster
managers
2.2 Action Lead : UN HABITAT ;
Support : IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF,
FAO,WFP and NGOs
IV. ACTION PLAN
The IASC Task Force on Meeting Humanitarian Challenges in Urban Areas recommends the following as the highest
priority actions to be undertaken by IASC member agencies in the coming two years on a voluntary and self-monitored
basis.
18. IASC STRATEGY MEETING HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN AREAS
14
Strategic Objective Recommended Action Agencies Responsible
Strategic Objective 3: Develop or
Adapt Humanitarian Approaches
and Tools for Urban Areas
3.1 Develop a methodology with indicators across sectors
for understanding and identifying urban vulnerability and
resilience in humanitarian programs’ design and delivery in
at-risk countries.
3.2 Broaden the Rapid Protection Assessment Toolkit (RPAT)
under development to incorporate urban vulnerability
analysis
3.3 Promote improved knowledge management of urban tools
and methodologies by creating a repository of useful tools
and supporting data bases for use in urban emergencies
for wider dissemination and accessibility by humanitarian
agencies and public. Ensure quality control, user-friendly
repository design and update of materials.
3.1 Action Lead: IASC Needs
Assessment Task Force; Support:
UN HABITAT, NGOs and UNCT/
HCTs
3.2 Action Lead: UNHCR and
Protection Cluster; Support:
NGOs and UNCT/HCTs
3.3 Action Lead: UN HABITAT and
NGOs; Support: Humanitarian
Partners
Strategic Objective 4: Promote
Protection of Vulnerable Urban
Populations against Violence and
Exploitation
4.1 Ensure that protection assessment methodologies created
by the Protection Cluster, among them the Rapid Protection
Assessment Toolkit, include the ability to identify and address
concerns of affected populations in urban areas and broadly
disseminate tool for use by the humanitarian community.
4.1 Action Lead: UNHCR; Support:
Humanitarian Actors)
Strategic Objective 5: Restore
Livelihoods and Economic
Opportunities as a Priority,
starting in the Emergency Phase
for Expedited Early Recovery
5.1 Develop guidance on supporting food and nutrition security
in post-crisis urban and peri-urban areas
5.1 Action Lead: FAO and WFP;
Support: UNCT/HCTs and NGOs
Strategic Objective 6: Build
Preparedness into Humanitarian
Assistance Policies for more
Effective Emergency Responses
and Save More Lives in Urban
Areas
6.1 Prepare a coherent and programmatic implementation plan
for the strategic objective, including an assessment of the
often fragmented, urban preparedness tools and approaches
to identify existing good practices.
6.2. Pilot test the implementation plan in one or two at-risk
cities which would put national and municipal authorities
in leadership while identifying areas for coordination on
preparedness based on their capacities and potential
response. Synergies should be encouraged in those countries
where multi-stakeholder partnership frameworks are being
developed under Strategic Objective 1. Both exercises will
contribute to revising country/city contingency planning and
complement the planned five-country national preparedness
strengthening activity of the Sub-Working Group on
Preparedness.Among potential, initial at-risk pilot cities are
Kathmandu and Bogota.
6.1 Action Lead: UN HABITAT;
Support: IWG (Mercy Corps),
Preparedness sub-WG, UNDP,
IFRC, ISDR, FAO and UNCT/HCTs
Colombia and Nepal
6.2 Action Lead: UN HABITAT;
Support: IWG (Mercy Corps),
Preparedness sub-WG, UNDP,
IFRC, ISDR, FAO and UNCT/HCTs
Colombia and Nepal