Introduction

Urban areas are increasingly vulnerable to disasters due to high population density, complex infrastructure, and growing exposure to climate-induced and man-made risks. The Disaster and Emergency Planning in Urban Settings Training Course is a specialized, hands-on program tailored to equip city planners, emergency responders, and resilience professionals with strategic tools to reduce disaster risks and enhance urban preparedness. This course provides advanced insights into risk-informed urban development, emergency response systems, and innovative planning frameworks that prioritize safety, resilience, and inclusive recovery.

By focusing on the unique dynamics of urban environments—such as informal settlements, critical infrastructure, and institutional complexity—this training strengthens the capacity of cities to plan for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Participants will explore global best practices in urban disaster risk reduction (DRR), utilize data and geospatial analysis tools, and design integrated emergency management plans that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Target Audience

• Urban and regional planners
• Disaster risk management officers
• Municipal emergency management officials
• Infrastructure and public works engineers
• Humanitarian and development actors
• Public health and environmental risk managers
• Local government authorities and policymakers
• Researchers and urban resilience practitioners

Course Objectives

• Understand the complexities of disaster and emergency planning in urban settings
• Identify urban-specific hazards and risk drivers
• Analyze vulnerabilities of urban populations and infrastructure
• Develop inclusive, risk-informed urban development strategies
• Design integrated emergency preparedness and response systems
• Apply geospatial and risk mapping tools to urban risk planning
• Strengthen inter-agency coordination and institutional frameworks
• Build resilient infrastructure and urban systems
• Incorporate climate adaptation and sustainability in urban planning
• Align urban disaster planning with international DRR frameworks
• Evaluate and update urban emergency management plans regularly

Duration

5 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Understanding Urban Disaster Risk and Emergency Dynamics

• Key characteristics of urban disaster risk environments
• Drivers of vulnerability in cities and towns
• Patterns of urban growth and exposure
• Impacts of disasters on urban systems and services
• Multi-hazard scenarios in urban contexts

Module 2: Urban Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis

• Hazard identification and mapping in dense urban settings
• Exposure analysis of people, buildings, and infrastructure
• Risk profiling and prioritization
• Use of GIS and remote sensing in urban risk planning
• Case studies of urban disaster hotspots

Module 3: Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning

• Urban emergency planning cycle and frameworks
• Community-based preparedness in urban neighborhoods
• Designing evacuation, shelter, and logistics plans
• Urban search and rescue integration
• Ensuring continuity of critical city services

Module 4: Critical Infrastructure and Lifeline Protection

• Urban infrastructure interdependencies and fragility
• Risk mitigation for transport, energy, and water systems
• Safe hospital and school initiatives in cities
• Urban resilience hubs and decentralization strategies
• Public-private partnerships in infrastructure protection

Module 5: Climate Adaptation and Urban Resilience Building

• Climate-related risks in urban disaster planning
• Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure
• Integrating DRR into city master plans
• Urban flood, heat, and storm resilience strategies
• Long-term recovery and resilience programming

Module 6: Governance, Policy, and Institutional Capacity

• Local governance and legal frameworks for urban DRR
• Inter-agency coordination and multi-stakeholder engagement
• Mainstreaming risk into municipal budgeting and services
• Role of national-local linkages in disaster governance
• Building institutional capacity at the city level

Module 7: Innovation and Technology in Urban Disaster Planning

• Smart cities and digital platforms for emergency management
• Mobile and ICT solutions for urban early warning
• Data-driven decision support systems
• Real-time coordination and crisis mapping tools
• Innovations in inclusive and participatory planning

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.