RFAs: Regional Programme for Strengthening Technical Capacity in Urban Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction

Deadline: 04-Oct-2026

UN-Habitat is seeking an academic institution or higher education organization to design and deliver a virtual regional capacity development programme on urban resilience, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation across eight Latin American and Caribbean countries. The selected partner will receive a cooperation agreement of up to US$50,000 and will support training for public officials, practitioners, and community leaders across at least 80 municipalities. Programme Overview The Regional Programme for Strengthening Technical Capacity in Urban Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction is an initiative of UN-Habitat under the Local Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction project, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The programme aims to strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of local and national stakeholders to better address: The selected organization will work with UN-Habitat to create a regional virtual learning programme that encourages knowledge exchange, peer learning, and practical application of resilience and disaster risk reduction approaches. Why It Matters Cities and municipalities across Latin America and the Caribbean face increasing exposure to climate-related hazards, disasters, environmental pressures, and rapid urbanisation. Building local technical capacity can help governments and communities incorporate disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation into everyday planning and investment decisions. The programme therefore seeks to move beyond one-time training by establishing a regional learning environment where participants can exchange experiences, develop practical skills, and apply resilience approaches within their own municipalities. The initiative is also designed to strengthen cooperation between countries and promote the replication of effective local solutions. International Frameworks and Policy Alignment The programme supports major international development and resilience frameworks, including: The programme will connect urban resilience, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development within local and national planning processes. Programme Objectives The capacity development programme is expected to: Strengthen technical knowledge on urban resilience and disaster risk reduction. Improve institutional capacity among municipalities and public authorities. Promote integration of climate adaptation into urban planning. Encourage regional knowledge exchange and peer learning. Develop practical tools and resources for local practitioners. Strengthen collaboration between municipalities and regional stakeholders. Promote gender-responsive, inclusive, and intersectional approaches. Generate knowledge that can support future replication and scale-up. Who Will Participate? The programme is intended for stakeholders involved in urban planning, resilience, disaster risk reduction, and local development. Other relevant technical and institutional stakeholders The programme is expected to reach at least 80 municipalities and approximately 240 municipal technical staff. Training will be delivered through two cohorts, with implementation planned across 2027 and 2028. What Will the Selected Institution Do? The selected academic or higher education institution will serve as the implementing partner and will have responsibility for the design and delivery of the regional capacity development programme.

Key responsibilities include:

Co-designing the curriculum with relevant stakeholders. Developing thematic training modules. Preparing digital learning materials and resources. Producing knowledge products and learning materials. Documenting lessons learned and successful approaches. Supporting sustainability and replication of the programme. Training and Learning Approach The programme will use a multidisciplinary and participatory virtual learning model rather than relying solely on conventional lectures. The learning structure is expected to combine: Thematic modules Expert presentations Interactive sessions Peer-to-peer learning Regional dialogues Practical learning activities Knowledge exchange Digital learning resources Collaborative discussions This approach is intended to allow participants from different countries and professional backgrounds to learn from both experts and each other. Focus on Gender and Inclusion Gender equality, inclusion, and intersectionality are important components of the programme. Training and capacity-building activities should consider how disaster risks and climate impacts can affect different communities and population groups in different ways. The programme therefore seeks approaches that are: Gender-responsive Inclusive

Participatory

Intersectional Sensitive to local contexts Funding Available The maximum proposed value of the cooperation agreement is: US$50,000 This funding will support implementation of the regional capacity development programme and the responsibilities assigned to the selected partner under the cooperation agreement. Applicants should develop a realistic budget that clearly connects proposed costs with programme activities and expected outputs. Who is Eligible? The call is aimed at academic institutions and higher education organizations with relevant technical and institutional capacity. Eligible applicants should demonstrate experience in areas such as: Curriculum development Virtual learning Online training Capacity development Urban resilience Disaster risk reduction Climate adaptation Urban planning Sustainable development Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to operate effectively within the regional context. Institutional Requirements Applicants are expected to provide evidence demonstrating their organizational and operational capacity.

This may include:

Proof of legal status Evidence of financial capacity Documentation of technical expertise Relevant institutional experience Experience with virtual learning pr