004 Call for Proposals: Data for Resilient Cities: Cities Reporting ISO 37123 Indicators in Support of the MCR2030

Organization:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

2020 Call for Proposals (Grants out)

UNDRR is the United Nations’ focal point for the coordination of disaster risk reduction, working with countries and a broad range of partners and stakeholders to support the implementation, monitoring and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in coherence with the 2030 Agenda and other instruments, for the multihazard management of disaster risk in development and the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses.

UNDRR issues grants, in line with UN Financial Regulations and Rules, to apolitical and not profit-making organisations to facilitate, implement, or carry out activities related to UNDRR’s and the partner’s mandates and work programmes.

To this end, UNDRR invites not profit-making organisations to submit grant proposals that focus on the project described below.

Project title: Data for Resilient Cities: Cities Reporting ISO 37123 Indicators in Support of the MCR2030

A. Rationale:

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has been addressing the global problem of a current lack of standardized metrics for assessing urban resilience. As part of the Making Cities Resilient Campaign and to overcome this challenge and build opportunities for cities throughout the world to be better equipped with high calibre, globally standardized data, the UNDRR’s Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) (GETI) has supported the development of practical, ISO standardized indicators for city resilience and disaster risk reduction. This effort has helped to guide the development of a new international standard for local governments designed to help address the challenge for more resilient cities - ISO 37123 - Indicators for Resilient Cities.

ISO 37123 is now the latest and most critical part of the ISO 37120 Series of Standards on data for cities.

As of May 2020, the ISO 37123 is available to cities globally. An online reporting portal is available for cities to begin reporting indicators in conformity with ISO 37123. This includes an outline for online reporting, the creation of workbooks for uploading data, the development of a protocol for backend checking and review of city data, and guidelines for capacity building in city administrations for data and source document compilation. In addition, a Handbook for Cities to Report Indicators in Accordance with ISO 37123 is available.

UNDRR is seeking a partnership till the end of 2020 to develop a framework for a global program on ISO 37123, to be rolled out globally 2021 onwards.

B. Purpose:

The aim is to undertake a short readiness plan to map all indicators across the ISO 37120 Series in order to construct the Resilient City Data Platform, and to prepare a roadmap for the strategic partnership framework which will support technically and financially, the roll-out of ISO 37123 to cities across the globe. All in readiness for the 2021 roll-out to cities globally.

The next steps will drive the impact of ISO 37123 as an essential standardized measurement platform to support local implementation of a quantifiable, data-driven city resilience strategy. It will also continue to serve to highlight the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as essential to driving change in cities.

Moreover, this project will serve to establish a sound framework for rapid action to address the new Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030). MCR calls for support for cities to be certified under ISO 37123 to better address the need for a clear monitoring and evaluation plan with indicators to drive evidence by cities in their DRR strategies and activities.

C. Outcome:

Outcome 1: Prepare a mapping of all indicators across the ISO 37120 Series for a resilient city indicator framework (By August 1).

1. 2: Construct the Resilient City Data Platform as a framework to drive the impact of ISO 37123 and serve as an essential standardized measurement platform to support local implementation of a quantifiable, data-driven city resilience strategy (By August 1).

1. 3: Prepare a concept briefing document that outlines a rapidly scalable solution for the roll-out and certification of cities under ISO 37123 and develop a strategic plan for its implementation globally (By September 1).

1. 4: Outreach to potential funding partners for introduction of the rapidly scalable solution for the roll-out and certification of cities under ISO 37123 and discussion of the strategic plan for its implementation globally (Prior to December 1).

1. is foreseen that these consultations will be on-line, and travel will not be undertaken.

D. Output:

This project will serve to establish a sound framework for rapid action as a contribution to the new Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) and will prepare the way for an intensive set of data activities in cities globally in 2021 and beyond.

E. Suggested activities:

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is proposing to undertake a six-month readiness plan to first, map all indicators across the ISO 37120 Series in order to construct the Resilient City Data Platform, and second, prepare a roadmap for the strategic partnership framework which will support technically and financially, the roll-out of ISO 37123 to cities across the globe.

The outputs of the program should be designed to drive impact and to rapidly scale the roll-out of ISO 37123 to cities globally, regardless of income levels, levels of development and human resource capacity in the field of data collection and management.

This project will focus on four critical outcomes:

Outcome 1: Prepare a mapping of all indicators across the ISO 37120 Series for a

1. city indicator framework (By August 1). The ISO 37120 Series includes a total of 292 indicators – ISO 37120 (Sustainable), ISO 37122 (Smart) and ISO 37123 (Resilient) – and provides cities with a crucial indicator framework for data informed preparedness, monitoring and recovery. With ISO 37123 now published, a document mapping the ISO 37120 Series KPIs for resilient cities across all three standards shall be developed.

1. 2: Construct the Resilient City Data Platform as a framework to drive the impact of ISO 37123 and serve as an essential standardized measurement platform to support local implementation of a quantifiable, data-driven city resilience strategy (By August 1). Building upon the indicators mapping, a monitoring platform shall be developed that will inform a very large and important city data platform to support MCR 2030. The architecture of this platform is the basis of this proposed work. This monitoring platform shall have a specific COVID-19 component for cities to drive strategic planning for current recovery, monitoring, mitigation tactics and planning for preparedness.

Outcome 3: Prepare a concept briefing document that outlines a rapidly scalable solution for the roll-out and certification of cities under ISO 37123 and develop a strategic plan for its implementation globally (By September 1). It is important that this solution be directed to all cities, regardless of level of economic development or income or HR capacity in data management.

Outcome 4: Outreach to potential funding partners for introduction of the rapidly scalable solution for the roll-out and certification of cities under ISO 37123 and discussion of the strategic plan for its implementation globally (Prior to December 1). This outreach shall include global private stakeholders, public sector partners as well as global agencies.

F. Resources:

G. Elements specific to the project that the grantee should know: (i.e. – workshops and trainings not considered in the proposal):

Detailed activities and implementation plan proposed should take into full consideration of the COVID-19 situation, e.g. face to face workshops would not be possible. The COVID-19 mitigation measures should be explicitly stated in the proposal to ensure that the project can be fully delivered by the specified time period.

H. Budget and administrative-related aspects: Not more than 80,000 USD.

The duration of the proposed project cannot exceed 6 months (1 July to 31 December 2020). The maximum amount requested from UNDRR for the implementation of this project cannot exceed 80,000 USD. The project proposal must not exceed 10 pages (attachments such as scanned copies of entity’s registration, CVs of staff etc. do not count).

For this purpose, please fill in duly all the sections of the application form, include the required documents (scanned copy of NGO/IGO’s registration certificate, CVs of staff etc.) and budget excel sheets, and send the complete application package (application form, budget excel sheets, entity registration certificate, CVs of staff, etc) to the following email address: [email protected]

cc: [email protected]

Reference: 004 Data for Resilient Cities: Cities Reporting ISO 37123 Indicators in Support of the MCR2030

Deadline for applications: 25 June 2020 midnight New York, USA EST (Eastern Standard Time). Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.

Projects’ activities can include, amongst others, the following:

seminars, workshops, trainings;
capacity building activities;
institutional strengthening activities and
advocacy

The following types of activity will not be covered:

capital expenditure, e.g. land, buildings, equipment and vehicles;
individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
supporting political parties; and
sub-contracting

Due to the number of applications, only short-listed applicants will be notified.

Please note that the grant payment schedule will be determined with the selected grantee when finalizing the agreement. UNDRR standard practice is: not to exceed 40% of the requested amount upon signature of the grant agreement; remaining payments made based on a schedule of payments linked to production of project milestones and the final payment, 20%, will be paid after the end of the project, once final documents have been received, verified and approved by UNDRR.

Refund of grants: UNDRR may request organizations to refund, either in part or in whole any amounts paid in respect of a grant when:

the project was not implemented in full or in part;
the grant was spent for ineligible expenditures other than those mentioned in the budget proposal submitted to, and approved by UNDRR;
no narrative, financial or audit report was submitted within the deadline established by the grant agreement;
a narrative report and/or a financial report submitted was determined to be unsatisfactory;
a negative evaluation of the project by UNDRR;
any other valid reason provided by the UNDRR.