Urban disaster risk reduction strategy in fragile contexts: a case from Kabul, Afghanistan

A long-lasting conflict and recurrent disasters in the cities have kept the county underdeveloped in Afghanistan. Rapid urbanisation and climate change would put more challenges to urban communities. In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Afghanistan, it is imperative to enhance the resilience of communities in the country. Drawing from a two-year project in Afghanistan that aims to strengthen the resilience of urban communities in the capital city of Kabul through participatory resilience planning and its implementation, this paper explores the effective urban disaster risk reduction strategy in cities in fragile contexts. The paper suggests that an integrated resilience-building approach, an inclusive and participatory community-led process, women's participation and a small block grant for structural and non-structural activities are important elements of the strategy.

This paper is a contribution to the 2019 edition of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR 2019).