IASIA is pleased to announce the establishment of Working Group XI: Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience, which will explore the opportunities and institutional challenges in integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change for urban resilience. The Group will also examine the crucial role that institutes and universities play in identifying structural gaps in governance and in developing effective training modalities for urban public officials and future leaders.

The Working Group is led by:

• Dr. Mohamed Mastere, University Mohammed V of Rabat (Morocco) – Project Director
• Dr. Mark Pelling, University College London (UK) – Co-Chair
• Prof. Sara Hoeflich, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) – Co-Chair

The Group is currently welcoming submissions for its sessions at the IASIA 2025 Conference.

CALL-FOR-PAPERS | IASIA 2025 CONFERENCE

We welcome papers that offer research, theoretical insights, or practice-based reflections on the opportunities and institutional challenges in integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change for urban resilience and how important it is for institutes and universities to collaborate on evidencing the structural gaps in governance and on modalities to train urban body officials and future leaders.

Contributions may address (but are not limited to) the following themes:

• Innovative governance models for embedding risk reduction and climate adaptation at the core of local development planning;

• Analysis of the existing governance framework and decentralization regarding new mandates required to adapt to the increasing challenges;

• Examples of training supporting governments and other stakeholders to embed risk reduction (and climate adaptation) at the core of integrated local development planning;

• How can, in particular, local governments overcome the unfunded mandates and give sustainable answers, especially to those risks that require adaptation and continuous investment?

• What critical factors can help to create partnerships between urban governments and academic institutions to improve risk-informed decisions?

• How can training and education facilitate greater local government–private sector partnership to increase municipality access to wider technical skills and solutions?

Submissions are accepted in English and Spanish.

 Read the full call for papers and submit your contribution today.

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