Checklist for the Resilient Cities Campaign

UNISDR Regional Office for Arab States are seeking good examples on urban risk reduction activities in the Arab region for the Global Biennial Campaign 2010 - 2011 "Resilient Cities". Globally, the aim is to have as many cities commited to meet the criteria for more resilient cities. This checklist builds on the priorities adopted in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015.

For the Campaign, UNISDR will use these criteria with all the campaign partners to develop and promote good practice; promote capacity development and cross-learning of experiences in specific areas; identify partners who can specifically provide expertise in one or more areas.

With the participation of partners, UNISDR will:

· Develop an interactive Campaign website that displays the names and the numbers of participating cities by different categories, including (a) countries and regions, (b) population scales and (c) geographical and hazard conditions.
· Organize region based networks for learning and capacity development- supported b a number of promoters and “champions” drawn from the participants in the “Alliance for local governments in disaster risk reduction”, academia and partner organizations
· Organize policy dialogues and workshops with local governments in each region, to learn from specific experiences, promote the investment opportunities between local, national and international partners, programming and to increase the visibility of the subject
· Conduct a mid-term analysis on the responses from the cities, in order to increase awareness and encourage strengthened assistance by international and regional partners of the Campaign
· Nominate a few high-performing cities (e.g. one city per Criteria area) and award a special title such as “Best Model Cities”- aim at having least 50 Role Model cities of different size and in different regions- exposed to different hazards.

Why do local governments want to participate in the Campaign?

· To get access to expertise on how to reduce disaster risk, and have learning opportunities
· Get visibility for political leadership and innovation- in the case of Role Model cities
· Participate in or offer hosting for city to city learning events; be part of high visibility events in all regions for “Role Model cities” to discuss with national or global counterparts critical issues, link to climate change adaptation, MDGs and financing forums.
· UNISDR would dedicate the UN-Nippon Foundation Award on Disaster Reduction to reward best practices of local governments to successfully reduce disaster risk- and link this to high-profile media events