The African Union (AU) Member States have technically validated the Africa Urban Resilience Programme. The African Union Commission (AUC) presented the Programme to Member States at a workshop held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, 20-23 February 2023.

Opening the workshop, Mr Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) at the AUC, stressed that “African cities are increasingly becoming vulnerable because of the changing climate, extreme weather events, which are further exacerbated by demographic explosion, and governance impediments. The AURP is designed to be inclusive and will provide an opportunity to save lives".

In remarks made on her behalf, Ms Christine Musisi, Resident Coordinator, UNDP Tanzania, thanked the African Union Commission for developing the Programme in the wake of rapid urbanisation on the Continent. Cities face interconnected challenges, so there is a need to “anticipate risk, invest in resilience and new technologies, and factor in inclusive growth". 

Mr Prudence Constantine, Assistant Director of Disaster Risk Management at the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, said, "We are very pleased that the participants accepted the invitation and turned up for this important exercise. I appreciate the AUC and its partners for facilitating this process. This strategic cooperation requires steady cooperation". He also highlighted that the country had launched an urban resilience programme that paid much attention to climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

The AUC presented the proposed Programme to the participants and showcased its development, including through consultations with the AUC Inter-Departmental Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (AU-IDWG-DRR) and partners. The Programme was also designed to align with and complement existing initiatives such as the Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP), the Africa Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032), and the COVID-19 Recovery Framework for Africa.

Throughout the workshop, Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and partner institutions reflected on the Programme and presented their best practices and challenges in urban risk management. From these enriching discussions, several vital messages and recommendations for the Programme delivery emanated. Participants acknowledged that Africa was witnessing huge disaster losses, which have a significant impact on the urban front. They, therefore, called on government authorities and all stakeholders to address urban development and promote resilience to meet the 2030 Targets. Member states also strongly identified the need for institutional arrangements with detailed roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders, including state and non-state actors.

Participants also emphasised how local governments have the best understanding of urban risks and, therefore, should be central in the domestication of the AURP. Other critical aspects identified included, increased investment in urban risk management, vigorous advocacy, a dedicated communication strategy and city-to-city learning programmes and exchanges.

At the end of the three days of intensive discussions, the Member States technically validated the Programme. The meeting was also attended by Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and partners. The East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS), Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), and Inter-Governmental Authority on Develop (IGAD) participated in the validation. Partners that attended the meeting include UNDP, UNHABITAT, UNDRR, GIZ, WRI, Wascal, WBG, and Periperi U. Other key players included Africa Youth Advisory on DRR and the Africa Science and Technology Advisory Group on DRR.

At the closing ceremony, the SEBE Director thanked all the participants for their active participation in the event, and the United Republic of Tanzania for the warm hospitality. He assured them that the Commission had noted all their feedback and concerns". The Director outlined the next policy steps, including presenting the consolidated draft to the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE) later in the year. He also thanked the AUC partner institutions for their support in the AURP processes, as well as the Government of Sweden and UNDP for their generous financial support.

The UNDP Resident Representative, Christine Musisi, congratulated the AUC and all the participants on the technical validation of the Programme. She described the process as essential to achieving SDG 11 on safe, resilient, inclusive and prosperous cities. "The AURP is capable of consolidating efforts towards achieving Agenda 2063, and I look forward towards its implementation in Africa". She added that UNDP will capitalize on the planned Joint Resilience Programme with the AUC and UN-Habitat to influence policies through compact and resilient models of resilient cities.

Mr Prudence Constantine was also upbeat about the subsequent policy processes for the AURP. He encouraged coordination and information sharing between agencies and all stakeholders, and concluded that "there is a need for increased political commitment to enhancing urban resilience in Africa, and governments should increase their budgets on DRR".

The Africa Urban Resilience Programme was developed through support from the Government of Sweden and UNDP within the framework of the Sahel Resilience Project. The substantial support to the DRR Unit by the European Union within the framework of the 11^th European Development Fund Intra Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, enabled the Unit to provide support to the development of the AURP.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai| 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: KaiG@africa-union.org | WhatsApp: +251 909537884

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate | African Union Commission|+251-911-630 631; Molalett@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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