Montenegro and UNDRR advance disaster preparedness in three municipalities to build resilient cities
UNDRR has extended its collaboration with Montenegro, focusing on improving disaster resilience in three key municipalities: Podgorica, Ulcinj, and Žabljak. This initiative is part of Montenegro's commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, following the country’s Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and Disaster Risk Assessment. With technical support from UNDRR and financial backing from USAID, the municipalities engaged in the Disaster Resilience Scorecard process during May and June 2024.
The Resilience City Scorecard is a comprehensive tool developed by UNDRR to assess urban preparedness for disasters. It enables local governments to measure their resilience against a range of potential hazards, identify gaps in their disaster risk management, and prioritize investments for resilience building. The scorecard is based on the "Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient," a framework designed to help cities implement the Sendai Framework at the local level.
For Montenegro, the benefits of the scorecard process are significant. First, it provides a clear baseline measurement of each city's disaster resilience, helping local authorities better understand their current vulnerabilities. Second, it raises awareness of resilience challenges and encourages a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing them, bringing together public officials, civil society, and international partners. Third, the insights gained from the scorecard assessments will energize the development of tailored local policies and resilience strategies, ensuring that Montenegro's cities are better prepared for disasters like floods, wildfires, and other climate-related risks. All of these efforts build on previous local level resilience efforts, with the Old Royal Capital Cetinje being first city in Montenegro to join the initiative Let's Make Cities Resilient in 2014.
By aligning with the Sendai Framework and benefiting from UNDRR’s expertise, Montenegro is taking proactive steps to strengthen disaster preparedness at the local level, safeguarding both its urban areas and the well-being of its citizens.