The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) launched its Urban Water Infrastructure Resilience Program (UIRP) strategy during COP28 in December 2023. This program focuses on improving urban resilience by tackling challenges posed by hydro-meteorological hazards. The initiative targets Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and Small Island Development States (SIDS) to strengthen urban infrastructure against potential vulnerabilities.

In continuation to the launch of the program, CDRI in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands with support from Deltares, have collaborated to address the critical issue of Urban Water Infrastructure Resilience. An in-person stakeholder consultation, held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi on 6 March 2024, convened experts from various sectors to discuss and define training needs for this vital aspect of urban development.

The event witnessed introductory remarks by Mr. Joost Geijer, Head of Economic & Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in India. He expressed continued support from the Netherlands government for CDRI's activities. Over 30 experts representing governments, international organizations, the private sector, and development banks participated in the consultation workshop. The primary goal was to prioritize capacity building modules for integrating urban water infrastructure resilience in LMICs and SIDS.

 

Key outcomes of the workshop included the identification of priority actions for training, aiming to enhance the awareness and capacities of city professionals to positively influence ongoing investments. The discussions also shed light on potential topics for water resilience training, explored delivery mechanisms, and considered potential partnerships and collaborations. The expert group concluded by outlining the next steps for the Urban Water Infrastructure Resilience Program. This marks a significant stride towards building sustainable and resilient cities, aligning with the broader goal of CDRI.

The collaborative efforts and insights shared by stakeholders during the consultation underscore the importance of a unified approach to address the challenges of urban water infrastructure resilience.