Major global agreements (e.g. the 2030 Agenda, New Urban Agenda, Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction) adopted by governments emphasized sustainable development that increases resilience to natural hazards and climate change. Governments in the Asia-Pacific region and their development partners are challenged to fulfill the promise of these new policy frameworks. The local implementation of these global frameworks and national policies is key in achieving their objectives, such as eradicating poverty, protecting development gains from natural disasters and climate change and ensuring that the most vulnerable benefit from sustainable development.

Governments, international financial institutions and multilateral organizations are exploring new ways of partnering with communities to scale up effective solutions, formulate new forms of financing, and find ways to nurture innovation and learning. This backdrop calls for investing in community- and women-led strategies and innovations for disaster and climate resilience to advance discussions for inclusive, sustainable development. Innovative financing mechanisms such as the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights Asian Coalition for Community Action and the Huairou Commission Community Resilience Fund channel resources to organized community-based groups in poor, hazard-prone settlements around the world in order to mobilize resilience practices and reduce communities’ vulnerabilities.

This session will also discuss other funding or resource mechanisms that are available to local communities for innovative and on-the ground solutions, and how such investments have forged advanced strategies in building and strengthening community resilience which empower communities to contribute to achieving the global development goals, and improve the livelihoods of the people who are most vulnerable to disasters and climate change.