Resilience Planning and Project Finance Process:
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Synergize with Existing Plans and Activities

Urban Resilience Roadmap
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Synergize with Existing Plans and Activities
Introduction Competencies/Skills Tools Tips Supporting Entities Potential Outputs
Introduction

The next step in phase 2 is to determine which project ideas fit within the broader policy and institutional framework, and how project options can complement and/or enhance the city’s other development efforts.  It is critical that project ideas align with existing national and subnational strategies as well as the national government’s overall approach to resilience.  At the municipal level, project ideas should also be consistent with the city’s existing spatial and development plans.  This demonstrates that the project idea is embedded within the broader policy framework of the country and municipality, and that the project, when implemented, will contribute to existing goals and reinforce/enhance efforts that are already underway.  Also, important here is a knowledge of other initiatives and projects that have been completed or are currently underway that may have a connection to the priority vulnerability areas.  Some of the key plans/documents to review in this process include:

  • City development plan;
  • Sustainable development strategy;
  • Strategic development plan/framework/socioeconomic development plan;
  • Poverty reduction strategy or policy;
  • UNFCCC documents, including Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Strategy, National Adaptation Plan of Action;
  • Other climate change strategies and policies;
  • Sectoral policies and roadmaps; and
  • City spatial and development plans

From a practical perspective, resilience building efforts in many cities around the world have been stalled at the implementation stage.  One major stumbling block is a lack of policy integration between resilience and existing programs in government agencies.  Therefore this step serves as a filter to screen the options identified in step one for relevance and compatibility with existing programs, priorities, and activities.

Once entry points have been identified, the next task is to coordinate with relevant city agencies to discuss the feasibility of the project ideas, the resources that would be required to implement the project, and the readiness/capabilities of the relevant agencies to execute the project.  City agencies will also provide feedback concerning the types of data and information that need to be acquired in step 3 (next). 

Tools/Resources
Tips
  • Understand your country’s policy landscape, as well as the obligations and authorities of your city government vis-à-vis higher levels of government (e.g. provincial and national).   Also pay attention to projects and initiatives related to climate change adaptation/mitigation, resilience building, economic and social development, and disaster risk reduction, as these are the areas that most commonly overlap with adaptation projects;
  • Mainstreaming resilience into existing policies and plans takes time, but early investments in identifying linkages and harmonizing resilience-building activities with existing and ongoing efforts of city agencies will improve project viability and results; and
  • Review relevant examples of mainstreaming resilience in your country.  In many countries, there are legal, institutional, administrative, and capacity barriers to mainstreaming.  However, most countries in Asia have at least one city that has been able to overcome these barriers.   
Supporting Entities/Processes
  • UNDP;
  • ACCCRN; and
  • 100RC
Potential Outputs
  • List of potential resilience building projects linked to city spatial and development plans; and
  • Initial consultations with city agencies concerning implementation arrangements for potential projects