Five years of collective learning: How cities are shaping the future of urban resilience in collaboration with the United Nations

The urgency of coordination

The Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) reveals a stark reality: risk creation is outpacing risk reduction. This is most clearly seen in our cities. As climate change accelerates and urban populations swell, cities worldwide are at the forefront of today's most pressing development challenges - from disasters to health emergencies.

These challenges are multi-dimensional and transcend geographic boundaries. Therefore, addressing them demands three things: that we break bureaucratic silos for better coordination among sectors, involve all members of society to ensure no one is left behind, and foster international cooperation to share best practices and innovations.

Five years of transformative learning

This is why the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) have been partnering together for the past five years, to turn shared knowledge and practical tools into tangible urban resilience. By facilitating peer learning and scaling localized solutions, South-South and triangular cooperation bridges the gap between policy and practice.

This UN partnership started at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and has resulted in five annual certificate training programmes, delivered via both live sessions and self-paced e-learning modules. This joint effort has to date benefited over 17,500 practitioners across more than 1,100 cities from 155 countries.

During our most recent joint training that concluded in March 2025, 1,846 participants from more than 700 cities across 151 countries and territories were convened. We are proud of the diverse makeup of the participants, as 44.2% were female, nearly half were youth (48.5% under age 35), and we had meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities (3% of participants). Moreover, 30% of participants represented local and national governments, ensuring the solutions shared take root where they are needed most.

That said, the most important metric has been the real-world impact. According to the post-training survey, 93% of participants said they gained actionable tools, 91% gained insights to address gaps in their DRR strategies, and 89% reported being satisfied with the training.

Here are some samples of the feedback from participants:

• "The integration of AI and GIS in disaster management was groundbreaking. I'm already applying these tools in my work," said an urban planner from Türkiye.
• "Learning how communities, governments, and organizations collaborate to mitigate risks was eye-opening," a Nigerian participant noted.
• A woman with disabilities and a leader of an Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) in Cameroon said "The inclusive approach and emphasis on good practices were truly commendable. I am confident that such initiatives will continue to multiply, fostering greater resilience and sustainable development globally."
• "This course showed how cities can transform preparedness into action," said a participant from the Philippines.

A blueprint for inclusive resilience

Across the UN system, we know that collaboration is essential. By combining our specialization, expertise, networks and resources, UN agencies are helping countries and cities build more resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban futures. This is in line with the one-UN approach and the goal of the UN80 Initiative of harnessing efficiencies.

Specifically, through this joint programme, we have been able to leverage each organization's unique strengths:

• UNDRR advanced inclusive DRR by offering tools such as the MCR2030 Scorecard Annex to integrate persons with and to capture their needs in the planning processes and ensure no one is left behind.
• PAHO/WHO focused on integrating health disaster risk reduction into building resilient cities and societies, including urban preparedness, response, and recovery, and addressing the disproportionate impact of health emergencies and disasters on populations in vulnerable situations, for a more inclusive and resilient future.
• UNOSSC supported the initiative under its "China-UN Global South-South Development Facility", and showcased proven solutions and connected cities globally, fostering a global community of practice for local actors.
• UN + Countries + Cities collaborated through pooled funding, specializations, expertise and networks that amplify impact, peer-to-peer exchanges of urban solutions, and shared technological innovation. It has fostered a living network where national policy makers, city mayors, disaster risk managers, health professionals and their stakeholders co-create solutions, proving that multilateral cooperation is not just about resources, it is about transforming how we collectively build resilience.

The path ahead

The lesson is clear: resilience cannot be standardized and achieved alone. It thrives on localized knowledge, cross-border partnerships, innovation, and the whole-of-society approach. Our initiative has evolved into a movement - one that must grow further.

To build cities that withstand shocks and stress, we need to:

1. Operationalize policy frameworks and practical tools through local implementation Continue building the awareness and capacity of institutions and staff and equip them with skills to apply practical tools (e.g., the UNDRR's Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, and the Extreme Urban Heat Risk Management Resource Package, with PAHO's health emergency frameworks and methodologies) and embed inclusive design in all resilience planning, ensuring at-risk groups co-create strategies.
2. Amplify Peer-to-Peer Learning Engage in global peer-to-peer partnership initiatives such as the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) and leverage digital platforms like South-South Galaxy's Cities Clusters to connect local actors globally, fostering real-time exchange and co-creation of proven solutions.
3. Harness Frontier Technologies Scale technological advancements like AI, GIS, big data and early-warning systems, and facilitate technological cooperation and capacity development through training.
4. Mobilize Cross-Sector and transboundary Coalitions Break silos by aligning UN agencies, governments, communities and the private sector around shared targets. Strengthen multisectoral mobilization and multilateral partnerships to match the complexity of risks.

Resilience is not a luxury; it is a necessity. And its foundation is collaboration. Together, we can ensure cities don't just survive but thrive. Together, let us make our cities not just resilient for a few, but resilient for all.

Find out more about the UNDRR-UNOSSC-PAHO Joint Training here