Regional workshop on urban risk reduction in Arab States, Damascus, Syria, November 2009: consolidated workshop proceedings report

This document is the report of a workshop where participants representing local authorities, researchers, academic experts, international and regional organizations discussed regional priorities and challenges with respect to urban risk reduction as well as key actions to be undertaken regionally, nationally and locally to build safer cities and increase resilience to disasters. It includes: (i) several experiences and initiatives on urban risk reduction with particular focus on progress, challenges and gaps in undertaking risk assessments; (ii) a presentation of the biannual World Campaign for Disaster Risk Reduction 2010-2011, Making Cities Resilient: "My city is getting ready" highlighting good practices and models from the region in enhancing cities’ resilience; and (iii) a set of recommendations including establishing a regional task force for urban risk reduction and undertaking an inventory on existing initiatives to reduce urban risk.