City-to-City Learning Forum Advances Urban Disaster Resilience through Global Collaboration

The City-to-City Learning Forum on Developing Urban Disaster Resilience, held from July 29 to 31, 2024, in Nanning, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), brought together over 70 experts and policymakers from the Asia and Pacific region and Europe, including CAREC member countries such as the PRC, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, and Pakistan. The event was co-hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative.

The forum focused on the urgent need for proactive knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices to enhance urban resilience against the increasing threats posed by climate-induced disasters. Such collaboration is crucial for developing effective disaster risk reduction strategies and promoting sustainable urban development.

During the final group discussion, Ms. Xin Lei, Chief of Knowledge Management at the CAREC Institute, emphasized the critical importance of international cooperation and knowledge sharing in disaster risk management. She introduced the upcoming launch of the virtual CAREC WASH Center, an innovative online portal designed for the exchange of knowledge, capacity building, and networking in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). These focus areas are vital for effective post-disaster recovery and risk management. By facilitating the exchange of expertise and innovative solutions, the center can play a critical role in strengthening local and regional capacities for WASH-related disaster risk management, in alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

This forum marks a significant advancement in global efforts to create more resilient urban environments, with continued support and leadership from the ADB, UNDRR, and MCR2030.