Cities in Costa Rica strengthen climate resilience planning and inclusion of persons with disabilities
The cities of Curridabat, Heredia, and San José in Costa Rica have made significant strides in bolstering their capacities to formulate local plans incorporating elements of disaster risk reduction and climate resilience, with a special focus on the inclusion of persons with disabilities. This progress was achieved through the utilization of the Scorecard self-assessment tools provided by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
From February 20th to 22nd, this transformative process unfolded at the Omar Dengo Cultural Centre in Heredia, where workshops centered on climate resilience and the integration of persons with disabilities into urban planning were conducted.
The inaugural day witnessed a hybrid format, with approximately 35 attendees in physical attendance and 10 participating virtually. Among the participants were decision-makers, resilience specialists, climate action advocates, disaster risk reduction specialists, and representatives from various cantons. Carlos Picado Rojas, the head of the Strategic Development Unit at the National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (CNE), along with invaluable support from officials at the Costa Rican Institute for Municipal Development and Advisory Services (IFAM), played pivotal roles throughout the event.
The sessions commenced with presentations on the Scorecard self-assessment tools and underscored the critical role of climate resilience in disaster risk management. Moreover, insights into the advancements of the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative and its roadmap were shared, setting a visionary course for collective action.
The second day was dedicated to implementing the Scorecard self-assessment tool tailored for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction. Over 40 participants, including individuals with disabilities, university representatives, and civil society stakeholders, engaged in fruitful discussions. The session fostered awareness among officials regarding the significance of inclusion and elicited valuable inputs to integrate specific indicators into development, resilience, and climate action plans.
The concluding day centered on deploying integrated climate and disaster risk analysis tools, alongside the Scorecard self-assessment tool for climate resilience. Thirty-eight attendees actively contributed to this session, laying the groundwork for crafting climate action plans that embed disaster risk reduction strategies.
This series of workshops was made feasible through the generous financial backing of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Gratitude is also extended to the municipality of Heredia, under the leadership of Mayor Ángela Aguilar, for providing the venue and demonstrating unwavering dedication to urban resilience. Furthermore, heartfelt appreciation goes to the municipality of Santa Ana for its commitment as a mentor city under the MCR2030 initiative, offering invaluable experiences and technical guidance to facilitate the development and enhancement of plans integrating disaster risk reduction and resilience measures.