Endorsing Partners – Resilient Cities 2018

Resilient Cities 2018 endorsing partners

The world’s leading institutions in the field of cities’ resilience and adaptation to climate change have given their support to the Resilient Cities Congress Series from 2010 to today. Every year, we are delighted to welcome longstanding partners and extend our network to new organizations! Their support is instrumental in echoing the efforts and successes of the Resilient Cities Congress Series.

UNDP

Established in 1966, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been partnering with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. UNDP works in four main areas: poverty reduction and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); democratic governance; crisis prevention and recovery; environment and sustainable development.

For more information about UNDP, please refer to its website.

UN-Habitat

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat’s programs are designed to help policy-makers and local communities get to grips with the human settlements and urban issues and find workable, lasting solutions.

For general information about UN-Habitat and its activities, please visit its website.

UNISDR

The UN General Assembly adopted the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in December 1999 and established UNISDR, the secretariat to ensure its implementation. UNISDR, the UN office for disaster risk reduction, is also the focal point in the UN system for the coordination of disaster risk reduction and the implementation of the international blueprint for disaster risk reduction – the “Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters“.

UNISDR published a handbook for local government leaders ‘How To Make Cities More Resilient’ which was presented at the Resilient Cities 2012.

UNESCAP

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. With a membership of 62 Governments, 58 of which are in the region, and a geographical scope that stretches from Turkey in the west to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati in the east, and from the Russian Federation in the north to New Zealand in the south, ESCAP is the most comprehensive of the five United Nations regional commissions.

For more information about UNESCAP, visit their website.

UNU-EHS

The United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) is located in Bonn, Germany. UNU-EHS addresses risk and vulnerability aspects of human security and the consequences of complex environmental hazards for sustainable development. The work of UNU-EHS helps to improve the in-depth understanding of the cause – effect relationships to find ways to reduce risks and vulnerabilities.

The Institute aims at scientific excellence in two broad thematic areas:

Vulnerability assessment, resilience analysis, risk management and adaptation strategies within linked human-environment systems; and

internal displacement and transboundary migration due to environmental push-factors.

UN Environment

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

UNCDF

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 48 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives.

United Nations Climate Change

United Nations Climate Change supports cooperative action by States and non-State actors to combat climate change and its impacts on humanity and ecosystems, thus contributing to a sustainable world and to realizing the vision of peace, security and human dignity on which the United Nations was founded.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with UN Climate Change as its secretariat, has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The ultimate objective of these agreements is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is responsible for a range of federal government policies which are reflected in the name of the ministry itself. For more than 30 years the Ministry has worked to protect the public from environmental toxins and radiation and establish an intelligent and efficient use of raw materials; it has advanced climate action and promoted a use of natural resources that conserves biodiversity and secures habitats. https://www.bmu.de/en/

Cities Alliance

Cities Alliance is the global partnership for poverty reduction and the promotion of the role of cities in sustainable development. Cities Alliance has a unique membership, comprising associations of local government; national governments; multilateral organizations; international NGOs; private sector; foundations and knowledge institutions. Current work program priorities include equitable city economic growth; gender equality and resilience. The Cities Alliance is at the forefront of promoting new thinking on a range of policy gaps, including the important role of secondary cities; the informal city and promoting local and national partnerships.

More information on Cities Alliance can be found here.

The World Bank

The World Bank is one of the world’s largest sources of funding for the developing world. Its primary focus is on helping the poorest people and the poorest countries. It uses its financial resources, its staff, and extensive experience to help developing countries, reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve their quality of life.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is a pan-European political assembly, the 648 members of which hold elective office. They may be regional or municipal councilors, mayors or presidents of regional authorities representing over 200,000 authorities in 47 European states.

The role of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is to promote local and regional democracy, improve local and regional governance and strengthen authorities’ self-government.

Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB)

Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB) Foundation is a Swiss foundation based in Basel working to promote sustainable and resilient infrastructure through sustainable infrastructure design and financing on a global scale. Active since 2008, GIB works with multiple stakeholders ranging from city representatives to project developers and infrastructure financiers, with a focus on emerging and developing countries.

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN)

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) supports developing country decision-makers in designing and delivering climate compatible development. They do this by combining research, advisory services and knowledge-sharing in support of locally owned and managed policy processes. They work in partnership with decision-makers in the public, private and non-governmental sectors nationally, regionally and globally.

CDKN is an alliance of five private and non-governmental organizations operating across Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, with a global office in London, UK. Please visit www.cdkn.org for more information.

Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA)

The Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) represents a multistakeholder and multilevel coalition of network of cities, private investors coalitions, development banks, national governments, research centres, foundations and civil society organisations that have come together to propose a set of measures designed to catalyse and accelerate investment into low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure in urban areas. Its core value proposition includes: Advocacy and raising visibility; scaling-up successful financial products; growing pipelines of fundable projects; creating enabling environments (readiness); catalysing and brokering partnerships; and coordinating and manage research & knowledge.

The Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV)

The Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV) is the unique International Alliance of Local and Regional Governments dedicated to identify, promote and develop solutions for financing and investing in urban development in a resilient, integrated and sustainable approach.

To fulfill its objectives, FMDV works on three pillars of actions: Organizing the appropriate environments, instruments and strategies to finance urban development and local economic development; contribute to the dialogues through coalitions of actors and thematic platforms; participate in international processes in order to promote proven solutions, identified from its actions on the field, for implementing international commitments.

Center for Environment Education (CEE)

Centre for Environment Education (CEE) is a national institution engaged in developing programs and material to increase awareness about the environment and sustainable development. CEE was established in 1984 as a Centre of Excellence in Environmental Education, supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India.

CEE’s primary objective is to improve public awareness and understanding of the environment with a view to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of nature and natural resources, leading to a better environment and a better quality of life. To this end, CEE develops innovative programmes and educational material, and builds capacity in the field of education for sustainable development (ESD).

Center Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)

Established in 2006, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) is a partnership of 41 countries and 8 international organizations committed to helping developing countries reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and adapt to climate change. The partnership’s mission is to mainstream disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in country development strategies by supporting a country-led and managed implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA).

European Environment Agency

The European Environment Agency is an agency of the European Union. Their task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. They are a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy.

For more information about EEA and its activities, visit its website

Earthquakes Megacities Initiative (EMI)

Earthquakes Megacities Initiative (EMI) is an international, not-for-profit, scientific organization dedicated to the reduction of disaster risk in megacities and major metropolises. It was founded in response to the urgent need to stimulate urban earthquake preparedness and mitigation in developing countries. EMI serves as a catalyst for the delivery of scientific and technical knowledge to local government officials, policymakers, practitioners, and disaster management technical personnel.

For more information about EMI, please visit its website.

ICCIP

The International Climate Change Information Programme aims to disseminate the latest findings from scientific research on climate change, including elements related to its environmental, social, economic and policy aspects in a way that allows them to be understood by the non-specialist audience.

For more information about the ICCIP and its activities, visit its website.

Inter-American Development Bank

Inter-American Development Bank supports efforts by Latin America and the Caribbean countries to reduce poverty and inequality. Its aim is to bring about development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way.

Established in 1959, Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean, with a strong commitment to achieve measurable results, increased integrity, transparency and accountability. It has an evolving reform agenda that seeks to increase its development impact in the region.

For more information about the IADB, visit their website.

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

The International Institute for Environment and Development is a global leader in sustainable development. IIED’s mission is to build a fairer, more sustainable world, using evidence, action and influence in partnership with others.

As an independent international research organization, they are specialists in linking local to global. In Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Middle East and the Pacific, they work with some of the world’s most vulnerable people to ensure they have a say in the policy arenas that most closely affect them — from village councils to international conventions.

ISOCARP

The International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) is a global association of experienced professional planners. It was founded in 1965 in a bid to bring together recognized and highly-qualified planners in an international network. The ISOCARP network brings together individual and institutional members from more than 80 countries worldwide. As a non-governmental organization ISOCARP is recognized by the UN, UNHCS and the Council of Europe. The Society also has a formal consultative status with UNESCO.

For more information on ISOCARP please visit www.isocarp.org.

IUCN

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.

Visit www.iucn.org for more information.

International Water Association (IWA)

The International Water Association is a global reference point and network of water professionals, spanning research and practice and covering all facets of the water cycle. Through its network of members, partners and experts in research, practice, regulation, industry, consulting and manufacturing, IWA is in a better position than any other organisation to create innovative, pragmatic and sustainable solution to current and future global water challenges.

Metropolis

Metropolis, World Association of the Major Metropolises, is the leading international organization that gathers cities and metropolitan regions with more than a million inhabitants.

Created in 1985, the Metropolis Association is represented by more than 120 members from across the world and operates as an international forum for exploring issues and concerns common to all big cities and metropolitan regions. Metropolis also manages the Metropolitan Section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

nrg4SD

The Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development – nrg4SD – is a global association that represents regional governments in the international agendas on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development. Established in 2002, today it has over 50 members from 26 countries in 4 continents. The nrg4SD serves as the voice of regional governments at UN negotiations, EU initiatives and global discussions. The facilitates cooperation projects and partnerships between members and with international experts. It promotes expertise exchange, capacity building and knowledge transfer to assist in the implementation of international commitments. Advocates for recognition and supports further engagement of regional governments in the global agendas. In the field of climate change, the nrg4SD runs the RegionsAdapt initiative, which aims to inspire and support regional governments to take concrete action, collaborate and report on climate adaptation.

Visit http://www.nrg4sd.org/ for more information on nrg4SD.

Resilient Regions Association

The steady flow of people, money, goods, services, energy, and information is fundamental for well-functioning cities. Skilled management is needed to guarantee their unhindered flow. This creates resilient, sustainable and attractive cities and regions.

Resilient Regions Association offers a neutral arena where the business sector, academia, municipalities and government agencies meet to solve regional challenges. Together we develop new solutions, new knowledge, new techniques and “best practice” to build a more resilient society with robust functions and flows – a society with the ability to quickly overcome and recover from stresses.

For more information about Resilient Regions Association and its activities, please visit www.resilientregions.org.

The RUAF Foundation

RUAF is a leading centre of expertise and Global Partnership on sustainable Urban Agriculture and City Region Food Systems. The Partnership is formed by a mix of cities, research institutes and NGOs. RUAF seeks to contribute to the development of sustainable cities by facilitating awareness raising, knowledge generation and dissemination, capacity development, policy design and action planning for resilient and equitable urban agriculture and city region food systems. For more than 20 years, RUAF has supported govern ments, urban producer organisations, NGOs, CBOs, research centres and other stakeholders with training, technical assistance, action-research and policy advice in over 50 cities around the world. In addition, we support local, national and international knowledge exchange, advocacy and learning activities.

For more information, visit www.ruaf.org.

UCCRN

The Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN) is a consortium of over 550 individuals dedicated to the analysis of climate change mitigation and adaptation from an urban perspective. UCCRN members are scholars and experts from universities and research organizations. They span a broad range of expertise including climate scientists; urban heat island and air quality experts; climate change impact scientists; social scientists, including political scientists, planners, and economists; and urban designers and planners.

World Resources Institue (WRI)

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a non-governmental global research organization which seeks to create equity and prosperity through sustainable natural resource management. WRI is an independent, non-partisan and nonprofit organization with a global staff of more than 450 scientists, economists, policy experts, business analysts, statistical analysts, mapmakers, and communicators developing and promoting policies with the intention of protecting the Earth and improving people’s lives. The efforts of the WRI are focused on six key areas—climate, clean energy, food, forests, water, and sustainable cities.

For more information please go to wri.org.

German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

The German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) is one of the leading research institutions and think tanks for global development and international development policy worldwide. The DIE’s unique research profile combines research, consulting and professional training. DIE builds bridges between theory and practice and works within international research networks.

World Green Building Council (WorldGBC)

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is a coalition of national Green Building Councils. With member organisations in over 80 countries, it is the largest international organisation influencing the green building marketplace. Since its establishment in 2002, the WorldGBC has been working closely with councils to promote local green building actions and address global issues such as climate change.

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development.

Researchers from the natural and social sciences work together to generate interdisciplinary insights and to provide society with sound information for decision making. The main methodologies are systems and scenarios analysis, modelling, computer simulation, and data integration.

For more information about the PIK, please visit its website.

Global Risk Forum GRF Davos

Through its various activities Global Risk Forum GRF Davos aims at serving as a center of knowledge and know-how exchange for the application of contemporary risk management strategies, tools and practical solutions. Therefore GRF Davos develops guidelines for action, action policies, strategies, concepts and recommendations for disaster and risk management, which are significant to political institutions, national and international organizations, nations and the economy.

For more information about the Global Risk Forum Davos, visit its website.