Call for Expression of interest by City Governments Locally Led Climate risk and Vulnerability risk Assessments in two Cities in Africa

INTRODUCTION

The GCA and UCLG Africa signed a partnership protocol in November 2021, to accelerate adaptation and resilience building measures in African cities. At COP27, the two parties signed an agreement to operationalize the partnership through a resilience financing grant to address the needs identified and expressed by mayors, local governments and citizens; and to strengthen and accelerate multi-level governance for adaptation and resilience building in African cities. The activities agreed upon under this grant are in line with UCLG Africa’s strategic objectives and are fully aligned with the African Adaptation Acceleration Program jointly led by the AfDB and GCA.

United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) is seeking expressions of interest from its members to participate in this process of assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities to climate change. It should be noted that initially, two pilot cities will be selected according to a multi-criteria evaluation carried out by a committee set up for this purpose.

OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND

Urban areas hold more than half the world’s population and most of its built assets and economic activities, and therefore a high proportion of the population and economic activities most at risk from climate change. Urban climate change-related risks are increasing – including rising sea levels and storm surges, heat stress, extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, landslides, drought, increased aridity, water scarcity, and air pollution – with widespread negative impacts on people’s health, livelihoods, and assets, and on local and national
economies and ecosystems.

The risks are higher in low- and middle-income countries, where the rise in urban populations is accompanied by a rapid growth of highly vulnerable urban communities living in informal settlements, many of which are on land at high risk from extreme weather. On average, 60% of urban residents in Africa live in informal settlements. Their existing vulnerabilities due to the lack of adequate income and assets, infrastructure, basic services, and voice in governance are further exacerbated by climate change-related disasters and stresses. Informal settlements are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to three underlying factors: their physical location, which is often environmentally fragile; the socio-economic characteristics of the residents, including high levels of poverty; and political and institutional marginalization, resulting in the absence of risk-reducing infrastructure and support to cope with shocks. Efforts to address the climate vulnerability of cities in Africa must, therefore, prioritize resilience building of the residents of informal settlements.

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The closing date for submissions is 18.00 CET, June 09, 2023.