As a supporting partner of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), the AIT RRC.AP contributed to the 7th APAN Forum held virtually between 8 – 12 March 2021. AIT RRC.AP organised the two following virtual sessions:
“Collaborating Efforts to Strengthening Cities Resilience to Climate and Disaster Risks” This session focused on how to integrate Disaster Risk Resilience into national development plans, how can academia, local government, and other stakeholders engage in improving the resilience of the cities leading the conversation to further discuss on the challenges faced by cities in assessing disaster risks, developing, and implementing cities resilient action plans and need for further enhancement for scalability. The session highlighted three main points for building cities resilience to climate change and disaster risks: (1) the need for inclusive and multi-sectoral approach (2) collaboration efforts focusing on resource and finance mobilisation, knowledge building and exchange, and capacity development via multi-stakeholder engagement from the local to regional levels and (3) importance of educational partnerships with city stakeholders in informing planning processes and bridging gaps to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups based on the experiences from Kathmandu (Nepal) and Santa Rosa (Philippines).
Climate Finance in Flux: how can finance flows steer resilience pathways that truly leave no one behind? This session dived into the discussion to talk about the role of climate finance to increase and accelerate inclusive resilience including enabling conditions to increase inclusion in adaptation practice. The session emphasized that for inclusive resilience investment and finance needs to be as diverse as the need and groups that it is aiming to reach; both funding and local implementing entities should be informed on how resources should be shaped and mobilised for inclusion; capacity building, flexibility, and collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders including marginalised voices, private sector, academia, and others is key to ensure that initiatives are taken seriously and the costs and time requirements for inclusive participation need to be acknowledged while noting that non-inclusiveness limits resilience outcomes.
For more detailed information about the 7th APAN Forum, visit the website linked here and other resources listed below: