“There is an urgent need for increased collaboration, investment, and coordination to address the rising number of disasters in cities and urban areas in Africa”. This key message arose from a partnership and resource mobilisation roundtable organised to support the implementation of the Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP) on 3 June 2024 in Addis Ababa. The event, convened at the African Union (AU) Headquarters, engaged with 31 representatives of development partners and diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa.

Georges Mba Asseko, Head of the Blue Economy Division at the AU Commission, noted, "          Resilience-building measures are needed urgently to foster risk-informed development in Africa. Between January 2000 to December 2015, 46% of all disasters requiring humanitarian assistance - 119 out of 257 events - occurred in urban areas, demonstrating a significant urban burden of the losses and number of people affected by disasters.”

Joachim Beijmo, Head of the Regional Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden said, “The Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP) and its implementation pathway of the Aqinile partnership [with UNDP and UN-Habitat] cement hope and resilience towards a sustainable urban future. I also appreciate the commitment of other development partners such as Germany in this process.”

Mr. Michael Münch, Counsellor for Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Germany underscored, "How we plan and build urban infrastructure today will shape cities in the years to come." He expressed Germany's commitment to support the implementation of the Programme through the GIZ-led Resilience Initiative Africa and reiterated the need for increased collaboration and coordination.

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai, Regional Coordinator for Africa, Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery at UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa, acknowledged the steadfast support from the Government of Sweden for the development of the AURP through the Sahel Resilience Project. UNDP and UN-Habitat then jointly presented an overview of the Aqinile partnership, further emphasising the critical focus on risk-informed development and the need to boost investments in resilient infrastructure and highlighted how "Urban resilience provides great opportunities for partnerships".

Oumar Sylla, Director of the Regional Office for Africa at the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) pointed out, "We can anticipate how cities can cut their carbon footprint, explore the opportunity for economic development and circularity, leverage investment, leverage digital transformation and foster coordination towards a resilient urban system through the Aqinile Partnership.”

The German cooperation agency GIZ^[1] presented the Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA) and its components including the development of learning and exchange platforms, the development of inclusive and gender-responsive guidelines for risk-informed urban development and practical interventions on climate adaptation and improved urban disaster risk management, particularly in informal settlements.

Stakeholders warmly received the presentations and followed with deliberations and overwhelming support for the AU’s agenda on urban resilience. His Excellency Mr. Anil Kumar Rai, Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union, noted that India has many lessons to share with Africa about resilient development and disaster risk reduction and invited the stakeholders to the upcoming India-Africa Summit. Representatives from various diplomatic missions based in Addis Ababa that attended the event, represented Spain, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Switzerland, Denmark, India, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank, UNDP, UN-HABITAT, and GIZ.

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. AURP aims to strengthen regional and national urban risk management policies, plans, and 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 to 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 the Aqinile Partnership (AUC-UNDP-UN-Habitat)

‘Aqinile’ which means ‘They are strong, they can withstand’, in the Zulu language, reflects the ethos and ambition for resilience building in urban Africa. UNDP, UN-Habitat, and the AUC have joined forces through the Aqinile partnership to deliver risk reduction and resilience-building efforts and accelerate risk-informed development on the continent. The partnership operationalises the Africa Urban Resilience Programme, promoting inter-sectoral coordination and advocating urban resilience among AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

For further information please contact:

Dr. Emmanuel Osuteye, Advisor, Urban Resilience| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy | African Union Commission | E-mail: OsuteyeE@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For media enquiry:

Mr Molalet Tsedeke | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: +251-911-630 631 | E-mail: MolaletT@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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

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