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Resilient Communities & Cities Partnership Program
[last updated December 3, 2004 10:50 AM]
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General Information
Partnership website(s) |
Expected TimeframeJune 2005 - December 2007 |
Partners
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Major Groups:
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UN System:
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Other intergovernmental organizations:
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| Other:
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Thematic Focus
Primary Themes:
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Secondary Themes:
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Geographic Coverage
Geographic Scope: Global
Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented: Philippines |
National Focal Points
This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved
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Goals and Objectives
Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
The goal of the Resilient Communities & Cities Partnership Program is to support the development of greater resilience in the institutions, infrastructure, and social and economic life of cities and towns worldwide through urban management and participatory governance. A Resilient Community is a city, town or neighbourhood that reduces its vulnerability to dramatic change or extreme events and responds creatively to economic, social and environmental change in order to increase its long-term sustainability.
Guided by the formula "Sustainability=Resilience/Risk," the program seeks to develop a methodology for local resilience management, which will increase the resilience of a city or community to a range of shocks, crises, and disasters including environmental emergencies, industrial accidents, outbreaks of epidemics, economic shocks, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and social conflict. In the Resilient Communities & Cities Partnership Program, the concept of resilience encompasses both the resilience of cities (the natural and built environment, including infrastructure) as well as the resilience of communities (social and political structures).
The program will focus on introducing policies, tools and methods developed in the disaster management community into the established worldwide movement for sustainable communities, thereby linking preventative disaster management know-how with established local methods for participatory sustainable development planning (also known as Local Agenda 21 planning).
The Partnership Program is composed of eight elements: partnership program management and capacity building; documentation and promotion of good policies and best practices; inventory and review of mechanisms for local resilience management; recruitment of pilot cities; methodology, modeling and system development; pilot projects in six municipalities; project learning and experience; and project documentation and products.
Guided by the formula "Sustainability=Resilience/Risk," the program seeks to develop a methodology for local resilience management, which will increase the resilience of a city or community to a range of shocks, crises, and disasters including environmental emergencies, industrial accidents, outbreaks of epidemics, economic shocks, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and social conflict. In the Resilient Communities & Cities Partnership Program, the concept of resilience encompasses both the resilience of cities (the natural and built environment, including infrastructure) as well as the resilience of communities (social and political structures).
The program will focus on introducing policies, tools and methods developed in the disaster management community into the established worldwide movement for sustainable communities, thereby linking preventative disaster management know-how with established local methods for participatory sustainable development planning (also known as Local Agenda 21 planning).
The Partnership Program is composed of eight elements: partnership program management and capacity building; documentation and promotion of good policies and best practices; inventory and review of mechanisms for local resilience management; recruitment of pilot cities; methodology, modeling and system development; pilot projects in six municipalities; project learning and experience; and project documentation and products.
Targets and Progress
Partnership targets2002
* Convene first meeting of the Resilient Communities Consultative Group at Local Government Session at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to conclude program strategy and establish new partnerships. 2004 * Finalize first work plan, including proposal for a global action research pilot project. 2005-2007 * Establish Resilient Communities "best practices" database. * Convene an international dialogue and networking seminar among practitioners and cities to identify lessons from current practice and key policies reforms to promote greater resilience in development practice. * Establish Resilient Communities recruitment campaign. * Establish Resilient Communities action research project with a consortium of participating local governments and their communities to review concepts, policies and methodological approaches for reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience. * Publish a Resilient Communities tool kit for distribution and application in communities engaged in Local Agenda 21 and similar sustainable development planning efforts. * Finalize a Resilient Communities training curricula and convene a training-of-trainers session with partner institutions. Simultaneously hold second meeting of the Consultative Group. * Continue to develop best practice resources. * Promote integration of "resilience" objectives and measures into other establish local sustainability programs, such as the UN Campaign for Good Urban Governance, ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, World Bank/UNCHS Cities Alliance etc. |
Progress against targets2002
* First meeting of the Resilient Communities Consultative Group convened at Local Government Session at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to conclude program strategy and establish new partnerships. 2004 * First work plan finalized, including proposal for a global action research pilot project. |
Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
- Human resources development/training
- Education/building awareness
- Institutional strengthening, including local participation
The program is designed to serve as a bridge between disaster management professionals and local governments that have developed skills in participatory planning and sustainable development. The action research component of the program-the pilot testing of policies, tools, and procedures in the draft resilience management system by six pilot cities-will ensure that the program outputs are practical. By making the program outputs (including a training module on the local resilience management system and a web-based resource centre) available to the target group (the thousands of communities involved in sustainable development planning worldwide), the program will accelerate the local "uptake" of resilience management approaches and advance the quality of sustainable development planning activities. As well, constant monitoring and exchange (through workshops, practical exchanges, working visits, and internet-based conferences) throughout the program will promote capacity building between the various partners, municipalities, and communities.
Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
The program will address numerous objectives in Agenda 21 to strengthen local capacities for poverty alleviation (paragraphs 3.5-3.8), health (paragraph 6.5), sustainable human settlements development (Chapter 7), integrated land resources management (Chapter 10), combating deforestation (Chapter 11) and drought (Chapter 12), coastal zone management (paragraphs 17.5-17.6), provision of sustainable infrastructure for waste and wastewater management (Chapter 18), safe management of hazardous and toxic substances (Chapters 20 and 21), and adaptation to environmental change.
As well, the Partnership will directly support the achievement of UN Millennium Declaration objectives stated in paragraphs 23 and 26.
Finally, the Partnership is in direct support of paragraph 37 of Chapter IV of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, entitled "Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development." The paragraph explains that "an integrated, multi-hazard, inclusive approach to address vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, is an essential element of a safer world in the 21st century. Actions are required at all levels to: [among other issues]...(f) Encourage the dissemination and use of traditional and indigenous knowledge to mitigate the impact of disasters, and promote community-based disaster management planning by local authorities, including through training activities and raising public awareness." Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
As well, the Partnership will directly support the achievement of UN Millennium Declaration objectives stated in paragraphs 23 and 26.
Finally, the Partnership is in direct support of paragraph 37 of Chapter IV of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, entitled "Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development." The paragraph explains that "an integrated, multi-hazard, inclusive approach to address vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, is an essential element of a safer world in the 21st century. Actions are required at all levels to: [among other issues]...(f) Encourage the dissemination and use of traditional and indigenous knowledge to mitigate the impact of disasters, and promote community-based disaster management planning by local authorities, including through training activities and raising public awareness." Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
Combating poverty; Protecting and promoting human health conditions; Promoting sustainable human settlement development; Integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources; Combating deforestation; Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification and drought; Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and development of their living resources; Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources; Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, in hazardous wastes; Environmentally sound management of solid wastes and sewage-related issues; Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building
Relevant Sections of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 Integration of economic, social and environmental objectives; Sectors and issues; Means of implementation
Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Poverty eradication ; Protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development ; Health and sustainable development ; Means of implementation
Coordination and Implementation
Coordination Mechanism of the PartnershipThe program will be driven by four stakeholder groups: the Resilient Communities & Cities Partnership Group (composed of the seven NGO and UN agency partners), the local governments that will participate in the pilot projects, the communities and local stakeholders participating in the local pilot projects, and professional institutions such as universities, trade and business associations and the national governments of the cities participating in the pilot projects.
The role of the local governments and community groups is largely to implement and test the approaches being proposed by the Partnership Group and to give active feedback on the methodology and system being developed. They will share this role through relationships with other stakeholders such as national governments, academic institutions, and various industrial and business associations. The role of the Partnership Group is to develop a conceptual framework for building resilience, that is, a methodology for a participatory resilience planning process. As well, the Group will develop a resilience management system (including policies, tools, and procedures) and capacity building tools (a training module and a web-based resource centre). On behalf of the Partnership Group, ICLEI will be responsible for overall program management and administration. ICLEI will develop a coordination and communication mechanism, making maximum use of information technology to ensure that exchange takes place among all partners. Since the program seeks broad experiences worldwide, it is anticipated that each partner will be responsible for working with and maintaining relationships with particular groups and communities. Capacity building among the partner groups is needed to ensure support in dealing with the different specialist groups and stakeholders. |
Implementation Mechanism of the PartnershipOngoing activities will be implemented jointly with the relevant partners. In addition, one-time or short-term activities will be undertaken with collaborating organisations. "Ownership" of specific products or services developed as part of the program (e.g. web-based resource centre, databases, etc.) will be distributed among partners, according to their commitment to maintain these products or services.
The partnership will build upon the experiences and findings of cities and communities that have responded effectively to extreme events and change. Additionally, the partnership will immediately link with the worldwide Local Agenda 21 Campaign and its numerous networks, presently involving more than 6,000 communities in 113 countries. It will also link with the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and strive to serve as the leading vehicle for ISDR promotion and implementation at the local level. To address issues of local adaptation to climate change, it will link with ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, now active in over 550 cities and towns worldwide. |
Resources
Funding Currently AvailableAmount in US$: 0
Source(s):
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Non-financial resources availableType(s):
Source(s): IGO - NGO
Partners are all providing in-kind contributions to further the development of the program. |
Funding SoughtRequired Amount in US$: 2000000
Source(s) already approached:
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Non-financial resources soughtRequirement(s):
Source(s) approached and details:
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Additional Information
Additional Relevant Information
Progress reports will be prepared annually for review by the Consultative Group and submission to relevant international bodies.