Introduction

As rapid urbanization reshapes cities and amplifies vulnerability to climate shocks, natural hazards, and human-induced crises, the need for strategic urban resilience and disaster planning has never been greater. This Urban Resilience and Disaster Planning Training Course is a cutting-edge program designed to equip city leaders, planners, and emergency professionals with the critical tools and knowledge to make urban environments safer, more adaptive, and future-ready. It integrates key components of risk reduction, infrastructure resilience, community preparedness, and policy frameworks into a holistic urban disaster management approach.

With a focus on real-world application, this course explores the intersection of urban planning, resilience engineering, and disaster governance. Participants will gain practical expertise in urban risk assessment, integrated response planning, resilient infrastructure design, and sustainable urban recovery strategies. By strengthening institutional capacities and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, the training enhances the ability of cities to not only survive crises but to thrive in the face of adversity.

Target Audience

• Urban planners and city development officers
• Disaster risk reduction and emergency management professionals
• Municipal and local government officials
• Infrastructure and transport development experts
• Climate change and resilience specialists
• Public health and urban safety officers
• Non-governmental and community organization leaders
• Academic and research professionals in urban resilience

Course Objectives

• Understand the key principles of urban resilience and sustainable disaster planning
• Analyze risks and vulnerabilities unique to urban environments
• Integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation in urban risk strategies
• Design inclusive, risk-sensitive urban development policies and plans
• Implement resilient infrastructure systems and services
• Enhance early warning, emergency preparedness, and response in cities
• Strengthen urban governance and institutional coordination for disaster risk reduction
• Promote social inclusion and equity in urban resilience planning
• Utilize GIS, modeling, and data tools for urban risk analysis
• Plan for urban recovery, reconstruction, and long-term resilience
• Align urban disaster planning with global frameworks and best practices

Duration

5 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Urban Resilience and Risk

• Core concepts of urban resilience and risk-sensitive development
• Urban growth dynamics and exposure to hazards
• Linkages between urbanization, inequality, and disaster impact
• Frameworks guiding urban disaster resilience
• Global trends in urban vulnerability

Module 2: Urban Risk Assessment and Scenario Planning

• Urban hazard identification and mapping
• Vulnerability and exposure analysis using GIS tools
• Risk modeling and scenario simulation
• Integrating science and data in urban risk planning
• Decision-making under uncertainty

Module 3: Infrastructure Resilience and Critical Services

• Risk-proofing urban infrastructure systems
• Resilient transport, energy, water, and sanitation planning
• Urban drainage and flood management solutions
• Building codes and structural safety for disaster risk
• Lifeline service continuity and redundancy

Module 4: Community Preparedness and Emergency Planning

• Urban early warning systems and public alerts
• Community engagement and grassroots preparedness
• Evacuation planning and shelter management
• Crisis communication and coordination platforms
• Multi-agency emergency response models

Module 5: Urban Climate Resilience and Nature-Based Solutions

• Climate impacts on urban disaster risk
• Green infrastructure and ecosystem-based urban planning
• Heat island effect and urban climate adaptation
• Water-sensitive and climate-resilient city design
• Integrating nature into urban policy and projects

Module 6: Governance, Policy, and Institutional Capacity

• Multi-level urban governance for risk reduction
• Urban resilience policy development and implementation
• Stakeholder coordination and cross-sector integration
• Capacity building for urban disaster management
• Accountability, monitoring, and evaluation

Module 7: Recovery Planning and Future-Ready Cities

• Post-disaster urban recovery frameworks
• Building back better in urban reconstruction
• Financing resilient urban development
• Futureproofing cities through foresight and innovation
• Case studies of successful urban resilience strategies

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.