Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction in Urban Areas – Building Back Better

The UNDRR Global Platform 2025 Concept Note points to poor urban planning and unplanned urbanization as critical aspects that require concerted attention to effectively reduce the risk of disasters. Failure to plan sustainable cities, villages and infrastructures that are resilient to multiple hazards remains a collective challenge with drastic potential repercussions.

This Session of the 2025 Stakeholder Forum will address these challenges and bring together stakeholders, urban and housing professionals, and other contributors to share local strategies to reduce disaster risk and build more resilient and sustainable communities. 

Session objectives

• Introduce a forthcoming ARISE-US publication that contains policy recommendations and tools to navigate the resilience-sustainability nexus to reduce risk and build back better
• Learn about and share strategies to reduce disaster risk, build and upgrade housing and other infrastructure.
• Provide examples of local or city-wide plans to prepare for disasters – especially for vulnerable or disabled people  

Outcomes

• Tangible follow – up with information, recommendations, and case studies or best practices.
• Raise awareness regarding strategic planning, policies, actions, and tools that can facilitate and accelerate successful integration of sustainability and resilience across sectors.