Extreme events such as storms, floods, landslides, earthquakes and heavy rains are often followed by a ‘second wave’ disaster of epidemics and infectious diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea and malaria, when the lack of adequate water and sanitation systems spread diseases. However, with adequate risk management and the right level of preparedness, human casualties can be reduced.  The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) has identified major disaster risk factors as unplanned urban development, inadequate drainage systems, the absence of efficient early warning systems and ecosystem degradation.

The International Water Association, in partnership with leading agencies, and through cooperation between cities, is working to improve disaster risk management in low and middle income countries. The programme aims to have longer term positive impacts on human health and well-being, especially for the poor and vulnerable, who are often most at risk from extreme events. By providing basic water and sanitation services and a well planned urban development, local authorities and utilities can go far towards meeting the objectives of disaster preparedness.

IWA seeks to establish a platform that brings together a multitude of actors that take an integrated view on appropriate solutions. This relates to policy making, financing, urban planning and management, emergency water treatment, infrastructure design and rehabilitation as well as upstream linkages of river basin management and land use planning relevant for cities.

Global scope with focus on cities

The programme is a global initiative with a focus on supporting the disaster risk management capacity of local governments and municipalities in developing country cities.

Key activities under development

• Development of an online toolbox of resource materials;
• Facilitating twinning for capacity building between cities (south-south and north-south) in cooperation with ICLEI, W-SMART and others;
• Organizing a ‘Forum for Urban Disaster Resiliency’ aimed at sharing experience and building international cooperation, co-chaired by IWA and W-SMART;
• Supporting more effective urban planning in response to disasters in cooperation with UN Habitat;
• Brokering and identifying technical assistance when required;
• Coordinating the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) working group on sustainable sanitation during emergencies and reconstruction situations (jointly with Oxfam and UNICEF);
• Developing an international expert review group to provide oversight to the programme;

How to get involved?

• Express your interest to participate in the programme - subscribe to information and notifications via email;
• Participate in the Forum for Urban Disaster Resiliency, either as a speaker or delegate;
• Involve your city in taking part in a twinning arrangement;
• Sign up to share your technical expertise and experience;
• Join the SuSanA working group for sustainable sanitation in emergencies and reconstruction situations;
• Sign up as sponsor for these different activities, including technical assistance to developing country cities.