Cities in Crises/Crisis in Cities

The New Urban Agenda recognises the growing intensity and frequency of urban crises and the importance of implementing the New Urban Agenda in countries affected by conflict, natural disasters and at high risk. Achieving the urban SDG (no. 11) will be impossible if urban risks keep accumulating and towns and cities are not prepared to respond to humanitarian emergencies. Member States must commit to 'leave no city behind' and ensure that even the most at risk cities are able to develop pathways to sustainable development by ensuring that crisis preparedness and response are adopted as critical components when implementing the NUA.

Humanitarian actors have begun to recognise the need to take a new approach to urban crises – working in support of and in collaboration with local actors including, municipal authorities and civil society, as well as built environment professionals, to strengthen their role in crisis response. They are also giving greater focus to restoring or bolstering existing city systems, rather than creating parallel services or providing short-term, unsustainable solutions for housing, water or healthcare.

The networking event 'Cities in Crises/Crisis in Cities' aims to showcase the multi-stakeholder platform of the Global Alliance on Urban Crises that links key constituencies - local governments, Member States, UN agencies, and humanitarian and development professionals - under a common goal of improving response to urban crises and jointly advocating for accompanying reforms to global policy and local management of refugee response in cities and towns. It will feature a panel discussion and focused dialogue on the progress made so far and the roles and contributions of the different constituencies. Particular attention will be paid to the humanitarian-development nexus and what it means for financing around the four transformative action areas of the Alliance.

More information about the event at www.urbancrises.org/thinkurban