Durban’s 100 Resilient Cities Programme: An overview for the City Planning Commission 18 th /19 th February 2015

The 100 Resilient Cities Programme

100 CITIES GLOBALLY Support (2 years) to develop a Resilience Strategy Access to platform of service providers Access to the network of cities

UNDERSTANDING RESILIENCE Urban Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.

The100RC TEAM-DURBAN

THE TIMELINE DecemberJanuary - August September Durban was selected as one of the first 32 cities included in the Rockefeller Foundation’s international 100 Resilient Cities Programme Durban’s scoping exercise Launch 100 RC in Durban – Resilience ‘Agenda- setting workshop’

EMERGING IDEAS FROM THE VOICES OF DURBAN

KEY IDEAS EMERGING Addressing inequality and unemployment Rebuilding the ‘societal fabric’ that allows us to stand together in the face of change The need to reduce crime Ensuring the provision of key services (water and housing) Planning differently to incorporate ecosystems as key ecological infrastructure Securing water supply Preparing for climate change Enhancing transport infrastructure to create access and opportunity Energy infrastructure for a low-carbon future The importance of good data in informing planning and decision-making Sound financial practices Society building Critical services Environment Infrastructure Data Finances

KEY IDEAS EMERGING Building active and engaged citizens Building human resourcefulness and supporting existing creativity Brave and visionary leadership The important role of a stable and capacitated local government administration in leading key processes (importance of skills retention) Rebuilding trust between government and society Strengthening partnerships between government, business and communities Building a political environment that facilitates Durban’s ability to respond to change Facilitating ‘ platforms for conversation ’ to inspire new thinking and innovation Engaged communities Leadership and Governance

The need for a locally relevant understanding of resilience – In Durban, ‘resilience’ is less about responding to disasters and more about slow-onset and systemic issues. Many of the issues being raised sit in the ‘grey space’ (e.g. governance, politics, social cohesion) – how do we facilitate conversations in these areas? 100RC Programme provides an important platform for reflection on the city system (regardless of resilience ‘definition’) Opportunity to think in innovative and transformative ways Durban’s resilience strategy will go beyond the 2 year programme The ‘ Resilience Strategy’ needs to support and strengthen, rather than replace, existing city strategies. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR DURBAN?

???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????? KEY NEXT STEPS Core work: Ongoing: Completion of compulsory work elements for 100RC Feb: Data trends for resilience issues Feb: Analysis of global trends March/April: Stakeholder engagement process to prioritise resilience issues May: Consolidate feedback and draft Resilience Strategy June: Further discussions with municipal departments and city leadership July: Finalise draft Resilience Strategy Parallel work areas: Pilot projects

ROLE OF THE CPC Provide critical input and guidance Ensure that the ideas emerging from the 100RC Process align with and support the broader strategic planning in Durban

Mrs Jo Douwes Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, eThekwini Municipality