Strengthening cooperation and collaboration between local governments: Second call for proposals for the exchange of experiences on the integration of DRM and adaptation to climate change in the development process at the local level

Introduction:

The UNISDR Global Campaign ‘Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready’ is an invitation to the leaders of local governments to strengthen their commitment to building prosperous, safe and resilient communities. In 2013, UNISDR supported the realization of six exchanges of experience as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and collaboration on issues related to disaster risk management between local governments in the region. Exchanges were selected through an open call to all local governments participating in the campaign. A detailed report of this first round of exchanges of experience is avaialble at the website.

The second version of the call seeks to continue supporting efforts of local governments in the Americas, including the Caribbean, to advance the building resilience in their communities. This time the call is focused on supporting proposals for the exchange of experiences that address topics related to integration, in the local development process, of policies and/or guidelines on disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. Policies and guidelines that have been defined in national and/or local contexts. In other words, concrete examples of how local governments face the challenges and enhance possible benefits that the occurrence of physical and or anthropogenic events, including those related to climate change, may represent to the welfare of their communities and development plans.

The launch of the call and support for the implementation of activities for the selected exchange is possible thanks to the contributions of governments and donor institutions. All local governments of the Americas that are registered with the Making Cities Resilient Campaign may participate in the call. The thematic areas on which the exchange of experiences be developed should be related to the Making cities resilient Campaign 10 essentials (one or more essentials).

Objectives of the call

The central objective of the exchange of experiences is to identify specific elements that allow for the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation actions in the context of sustainable local development.

The call has two specific objectives:

• Promote cooperation and collaboration on issues related to the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation actions through development policies and practices.
• Identify and highlight local experiences that implement innovative solutions to the challenge of advancing towards a sustainable development, sensitive to risk reduction and climate change.

Topics to be addressed in the proposals for exchange

In general, the proposals for exchange of experiences should address topics related to the 10 essentials of the ‘Making Cities Resilient’ Campaign.

Specifically, the exchange proposals should reference experiences related to the integration of the 10 essentials (or local equivalents) in the local government development plans at the sectoral and territorial level. For example:

• How are the 10 essentials for disaster risk reduction linked to actions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
• How do disaster risk management efforts integrate aspects related to adaptation and/or mitigation climate change?
• Or, from another angle, how do adaptation and/or mitigation climate change efforts integrate multi-hazard disaster risk management.

For the formulation and development of the proposed experiences of exchange:

The assistance offered for the preparation of the exchange of experiences proposal includes:

• Identifying local governments with similar problems and contexts. Each local government is responsible for establishing the contact with the identified candidates.
• Support in the formulation of the agendas for the exchanges.

For the selected exchange of experiences, includes:

• Financial support which covers:

1. Travel expenses for up to 2 persons per local government.
2. Accommodations and daily expenses for a maximum of 3 nights/4 days for each participant (covered with the payment of a stipend that is calculated based on the rates used by the UN by country and location).
3. NOTE: the financial support does not include financing for visas or passports. In cases where required; the participant is responsible for procuring these documents on his/her own. The travel process will only begin once participants demonstrate they meet the Passport and visa requirements of the destination country.

• Support will be given to a maximum of 2 local governments. A round-trip visit constitutes an exchange.
• Technical assistance for the documentation of the exchange.

Expected results

• Establishment of cooperation between the municipalities involved in the Campaign in the areas of disaster risk management related to the 10 essential aspects.
• Identification of tools and technical resources that have been implemented in local contexts in order to integrate disaster risk reduction and adaptation (and mitigation) to climate change in development practices.
• Systematization of the experiences as a contribution to the definition of the post-2015 Development Agenda and the Post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
• Publication and dissemination of the exchange reports through different media in the region.

Commitments of local governments participating in the exchange

• Each exchange shall be documented, including an audio-visual record, using a reference guide provided for that purpose. A summary of the highlights of the exchange will be posted on the UNISDR website.
• Each local government will coordinate media coverage, local and/or national, on the experience of exchange. In addition, each will prepare a brief note to be published on the UNISDR website.
• Six months after the exchange is conducted, participating local governments must submit a brief report on actions taken as a result thereof.

Important dates for the call:

• Opening date of the call: June 16, 2014
• Closing date of the call: July 18, 2014

Publication of the results from the call will begin on July 30, 2014. Tentative period during which the exchanges will be conducted: September - October 2014

Procedure for applying to the call:

1. Complete the application form included in Annex 1.
2. The application could be completed by one or more local government institutions. Preference will be given to applications that involve two or more local government entities.
3. Obtain the support of the highest authority of each of the local governments that would be participating in the exchange. The application must be accompanied by a letter from the highest authority (Mayor, Prefect, or the equivalent), indicating his/her interest and willingness to support the exchange.
4. In the application letter, participants must commit to preparing a report of the exchange according to the guidelines set forth in Section 6 of this call. Exchange documentation is the responsibility of the participating local governments.
5. Include a preliminary agenda for the implementation of the exchange using the proposed plan in Annex 3. The agenda must include tentative dates for the completion of the activity.
6. Send the application form and its corresponding annexes and the letters of support for the exchange of experiences to UNISDR, Regional Office-The Americas by email to rvargas@eird.org. The letters of support must be signed by the participating local authorities.
7. NOTE: Applications which do not use the above format or that do not include letters of support from the authorities will not be accepted.

Procedure for the review and selection of proposals submitted to the call

An evaluation committee, using the criteria mentioned above, will review the applications. The committee will select up to 6 exchange proposals. The evaluation committee will comprise of personnel from UNISDR and members of other institutions invited to participate in the process.

• Exchange proposals that enable continuity and/or strengthen cooperation and/or collaboration efforts already underway will be prioritized.
• Technical support for the documentation of the exchange will be provided.
• The revision of the proposals also assesses the integration of gender equality criteria and the participation of civil society, including segments of the population with higher levels of vulnerability, the private sector and academia.