The Portuguese Resilient Cities Network continues to expand and advance the DRR agenda in the country

The 8th annual meeting of the Portuguese National Platform on DRR’s working group on Resilient Cities was held in the municipality of Loulé in the region of Algarve on 24-26 May. 

The three-day event started with a ceremony to celebrate the 51 local governments that have joined the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, in which they were each handed certificates acknowledging their efforts on building local resilience. 

During the ceremony, Mr. Duarte de Costa, the President of the Portuguese National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, said: “Resilience is not just about preventing adversity, but also about leveraging our networks to overcome challenges and build a safer future”.

The event brought together more than 90 participants to exchange experiences and best practices in building local-level resilience, including on challenges in the implementation of disaster resilience plans. Participants also discussed forest, biodiversity, and coastal risks as well as the importance of the early warning systems in saving lives and livelihoods. 

Mr. Carvalho, the Coordinator of the Resilient Cities Working Group, highlighted: “If we manage to achieve resilient cities, we are going to have resilient countries as well. 51 Portuguese cities enrolled in the MCR2030 demonstrate an exceptional commitment to building more resilient communities.”

The National Resilience Cities Network in Portugal exemplifies a unique cooperation between cities, officials, civil society, and academia on building safe and resilient communities. The cities will continue dialogue at the next meeting of the Working Group scheduled for November 2023.

Portugal, a leader in local resilience building efforts globally, boasts two MCR2030 Resilience Hubs – Amadora and Matosinhos – that have been recognised for their established track record in disaster risk reduction and resilience and are committed to support and mentor other MCR2030 cities and municipalities. 
 

About MCR2030: Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) is a global partnership that has mobilized more than 1,500 local governments, representing over 463 million people, committed to strengthening their disaster and climate resilience. MCR2030 encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the implementation of innovative strategies to create more resilient communities.