Training of Trainers on Urban Risk Reduction and Making Cities Resilient for Bangladesh

Background and Introduction

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

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

Through the Making Cities Resilient (MCR) Campaign, launched in 2010 with an aim to increase political engagement and raise awareness on disaster risk reduction at the local level, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has been supporting the local governments in reducing risk, addressing sustainable development challenges, and to achieve target ‘e’ of the Sendai Framework and indicator 11b of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), i.e. the development of DRR strategies and action plan.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, hit annually by the cyclone in which its frequency is intensified by the climate change.  More than 30% of the country is urbanized and 65% of the country’s economy is dependent on urban resources.  There is a need to ensure that local governments are empowered and given responsibility in managing disaster risk reduction. In July 2018, all of the 329 municipalities of Bangladesh through the coordination and support from the Municipality Association of Bangladesh, have agreed to join the MCR Campaign and commit to making their cities resilient to disasters.  To facilitate the sustainability of the capacity building for local governments in Bangladesh on disaster risk reduction, a Training of Trainers on “Urban Risk Reduction and Making Cities Resilient for Bangladesh” will be organized from 28-30 August 2018 at the UNISDR-GETI training center in Incheon, Republic of Korea.  

Overall, the training course will provide an opportunity for participants to:

• Understand the implications coherence of the Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and integration of disaster risk reduction in development processes and investments: from the global frameworks to local implementation
• Understand the Making Cities Resilient Campaign, the New Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient, and useful tools such as the Quick Risk Estimation and Disaster Resilient Scorecard for Cities
• Practice applying the MCR Campaign tools to enhance the understanding on localized risks and assessing the local progress on disaster risk reduction
• Explore cases on the integration of disaster risk reduction into urban and sectoral development policy, investment, and implementation
• Understand the methodology, practice developing disaster risk reduction plan, and apply the monitoring and evaluation framework in the planning process
• Exchange in-depth learning from experts in the related areas and to share good practices among participants and discuss in-country challenges and opportunities in building resilience

It is expected that the trained cadres be able to replicate the training and further enhance the capacities of local governments in Bangladesh on disaster risk reduction action planning and support local governments in making cities resilient and sustainable in the future.