The African Union has launched a new continental initiative in partnership with ICLEI Africa and GIZ to strengthen the resilience of African cities and urban centres.

The initiative titled, Planning in Action: Strengthening Resilience of African Cities and Urban Centres, will reinforce the role of cities and municipalities in advancing Africa’s urban resilience agenda, in alignment with the African Union’s Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP).

The technical teams of the African Union Commission, ICLEI Africa, and GIZ’s Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA) have worked closely to align the project’s objectives, methodology, and implementation approach, and its inception, held late January 2026, marked an important step in operationalising the AURP continental framework through coordinated, city-led action.

The project will convene a diverse group of African city and municipal leaders to co-produce a flagship Action Document for Urban Resilience in Africa, designed to support advocacy, guide implementation, and strengthen linkages between local action, continental priorities, and global policy processes.

 “African cities are on the frontline of climate and disaster risk, but they are also central to delivering solutions, said Dr Kate Strachan, Deputy Director: Resilience at ICLEI Africa and Project Lead. “This partnership creates a practical pathway for cities to shape a shared vision for urban resilience that is grounded in African realities and aligned with continental priorities.”

On behalf of Mr Harsen Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the AUC, Prof Emmanuel Osuteye, Technical Advisor on Urban Resilience, emphasised that “the Africa Urban Resilience Programme provides a strategic framework for reducing risk and strengthening resilience in African cities. This initiative supports the translation of that framework into coordinated action, ensuring that municipal perspectives are embedded within continental processes”.

From the perspective of development cooperation and learning, Ria Hidajat, representing the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA), emphasised: “Strengthening urban resilience requires shared learning, strong partnerships, and platforms that connect local experience with regional and global dialogue. This collaboration offers an opportunity to generate practical insights that can inform resilience efforts across the continent.”

The project is financed by GIZ and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and supports learning, partnership-building, and advocacy for resilient and sustainable urban development in Africa.

About the Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP)

The Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP) was developed by the African Union Commission (AUC) with the support of the Government of Sweden and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Sahel Resilience Project. The AURP is a continental framework designed to strengthen regional and national urban risk management policies, plans, and the institutional capacities of member states to address urban risks.

Additionally, the European Union, through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme, played a catalytic role in supporting the development of the AURP.

About Resilience Initiative Africa

The ‘Resilience Initiative Africa’ (RIA) is a regional project supported by Germany that aims to increase the capacities of regional, national, local state, and non-state actors for risk-informed urban development in Africa. One crucial part of RIA is the support for the Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP). The project is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and its project partners.

About ICLEI Africa:

ICLEI is a global network with a bold vision for a sustainable urban future, working with more than 2,500 local and regional governments, and advocating for local and subnational governments in the global arena for over 35 years.​ ICLEI Africa, one of ICLEI’s many Regional Offices across the globe, works directly with African local and subnational governments to co-develop solutions that respond to the continent’s unique challenges and opportunities in an integrated, inclusive way. Through long-term partnerships, innovation and deep technical expertise, the organisation is helping drive real impact and shape an urban future where African cities thrive.

For further information contact:

Mrs. Teressa Custodio Pinto| Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment | E-mail: PintoT@africanunion.org

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke |Communication and Media Officer| Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | Email: MolaletT@africanunion.org

Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communications Analyst – Disaster Risk Reduction | Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | African Union Commission | E-mail: MuriukiM@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.