Enhancing Disaster Risk Reduction in African Cities (DRR4Africa project)

Cape Coast, Lusaka and Port Louis committed to improving DRR and adaptation planning at the city-level through the MCR2030 initiative.

ICLEI Africa is supporting this commitment by enhancing the disaster preparedness and resilience of these cities trough the DRR4Africa project. 

What sets ICLEI Africa’s DRR4Africa project apart from traditional DRR initiatives is its emphasis on local collaboration and community participation. DRR4Africa fosters resilience by co-developing solutions tailored to each city’s unique climate risks. The project focus on working closely with local governments officials and communities ensures that the resilience-building strategies reflect on-the-ground realities. Through participatory workshops in all three cities, DRR4Africa bridges the gap between data and action. These workshops convene local government officials, technical experts, and community representatives to co-create resilience strategies informed by a comprehensive Resilience Scorecard and Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (RVA), paired with insights from the World Risk Poll Resilience Index. For example, in Lusaka, the emphasis is on addressing recurrent flooding in informal settlements like George and Kanyama, where poor infrastructure exacerbates disaster vulnerability. 

Each city is building a community of practice, a network of local stakeholders who share knowledge, to improve DRR strategies. This platform not only amplifies local voices but also promotes regional collaboration, as evidenced by DRR4Africa’s participation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) DRR workshop in June 2024.

The project’s commitment to fostering equity and inclusivity, particularly in terms of gender responsiveness, ensures that African cities will be equipped to withstand climate shocks and protect future generations, in line with the Sendai framework.

As the world contends with the realities of a changing climate, ICLEI Africa’s DRR4Africa project stands as a powerful example of how data-driven, community-focused initiatives can drive transformative change. By uniting local stakeholders, amplifying the voices of marginalised groups, and turning insights into actionable strategies, DRR4Africa is building a resilient urban future for Africa—one that leaves no one behind.