Making Cities Resilient:

My City is Getting Ready

www.unisdr.org/campaign

ROLE MODEL GUIDELINES

How to sign up as a Role Model in the
Making Cities Resilient Campaign
1

Who is a Role Model?

Cities, municipalities or local governments that are participating in the Campaign and have
demonstrated good practices and innovation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience
can be nominated as a Role Model in the campaign.
Role Models are city authorities or local governments that demonstrate achievements in at
least five areas out of the 10 Essentials in the Ten-point checklist of Essentials for Making
Cities Resilient (Annex 1). The nominated cities or local governments must show innovation,
sustained results in measuring and reducing disaster risk, their aims to continue to do so as
well as must be interested to showcase and share experiences
Role Models are authorities or governments that have implemented innovative, creative,
inclusive and efficient measures and action plans to realize strong political will in the field of
DRR at local level. They will inspire, share experience, create learning opportunities and
provide support to other cities to boost their efforts towards committed resilient cities and
communities.

How to become a role model city:

Step 1 - Join the Making Cities Resilient Campaignhttp://www.preventionweb.net/applications/hfa/lgsat/en/signup
Step 2 - Review cities progress in risk reduction using the Local Government Self-assessment
tool (LGSAT) or implement the City Resilience Scorecard
Step 3 - Get nominated ( see Role models can be nominated by:);
Step 4 - Submit request (i.e. candidature form, motivation and recommendation letter);
Step 5 Receive appointment certificate;

Role Models can be nominated by:

- National government institutions (such as dealing with disaster risk reduction issues, local
and urban development, environment, financing, planning etc) ;
- An international partner in the Making Cities Resilient Campaign;
- Another role model city;
- A local, national, regional or global civil society organization;
- A UN agency working with a city in disaster risk reduction, development or related issues; or
- Private sector company that either is part of UNISDR PSP or works closely with a city in disaster
risk reduction, development or related issues.
Nominating institution or agency needs to provide a letter of recommendation highlighting the
effort and achievements of the city or local government based on the Ten Essentials (refer
Annex I)

Submit role model request:

The nominated local government shall send, in addition to the candidature form (see Annex
II), a motivation letter to UNISDR. The motivation letter needs to provide:
-

Explanation and justification why the city can stand as a good role model, what lessons
it can offer to other cities wanting to improve their DRR;
Evidence of achievements in DRR in the city: how particular measures, amendments,
investments, partnerships, etc. have improved resilience in specific but transposable
context;
Tangible commitments in offer assistance to other cities through various means such as
city-to-city learning, strategy of actions and events and to act as a lead in advocating
for the Campaign.

Nomination documents must also include a letter of recommendation from one of the entities
mentioned above ( see Role models can be nominated by:) supporting the nomination and
confirming the results achieved by the local government.

Recognition and commitments:

UNISDR will provide formal recognition to the nominated city as a Role Model in its area(s) of
strength. Role Models will be featured in the Making Cities Resilient Campaign reports and
publicity material.
Role Models will commit to:

Share experiences with other cities by organizing city-to-city at least once per year (via
tools or physical meetings/workshops) or with study tours;

Prepare audiovisual material presenting innovative solutions for local risk reduction and
resilience, and organizing policy dialogues;

Report back to UNISDR at least once per year on achievements to be featured in reports
and publications on resilient cities;

Role Models should provide technical assistance and lead on training for the use and
implementation of the Local HFA-LGSAT, based on their experience with the tool.

Role Models shall help in building awareness by sending a representative to attend at

least one event per year and should help with promoting and/or organizing and/or
participating in coordination with UNISDR. Global/National/regional events should be
used to advocate campaign messages, disseminate publications and other relevant
information.

Role Model focal point shall provide one story per year (minimum) to be posted on the
UNISDR Making Cities Resilient Campaign website in their native language.

Role Models shall provide analysis of information, for reports case studies etc. according
to their capacities, background and experience.

Role Models should provide specific research and lessons learned, according to their
experience.

Ten-point Checklist - Essentials for Making Cities Resilient1

1. Put in place an organizational structure and identify the necessary
processes to understand and act on reducing exposure, its impact and
vulnerability to disasters.

Annex I

2. Identify, understand and use current & future risk scenarios

A Ten-point
checklist for local
governments1- Ten
essentials for
making cities
resilient

3. Understand the economic impact of disasters and the need to

strengthen financial capacity for resilience.
4. Pursue resilient urban development and design for new
infrastructures, hazard-resistant buildings, flood drainage, green
areas, etc.
5. Safeguard natural buffers to enhance the protective functions
offered by natural ecosystems and anticipate changes from climate
trends, urbanization and planning to enable ecosystem services to
withstand these.

The Making Cities

Resilience campaign
and its prorgramme
offers a Ten-point
checklist to serve as
a guide for
commitments.

6. Strengthen capacity of all institutions relevant to a citys resilience to

discharge their roles in five key DRR areas of understanding,
prevention, mitigation, response and recovery planning.
7. Strengthen societal capacity for resilience
8. Increase resilience of infrastructure to cope with disasters.
9. Ensure effective disaster response.
10. Expedite recovery and build back better after any disaster

The Checklist builds on the priorities identified in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

Annex II: Candidature Form for Role Models

Role Models will be actively promoted in the campaign. Each Role Model will be able to create an individual
Role Model profile hosted on the campaign website with Role Model-specific elements, such as showcasing
good practices in at least 5 essentials, and highlighting main achievements and potential for replication.
Please provide the following information (all fields are mandatory):
Select at least 5 essentials highlighting main achievements and good practices
Essential 1 Organize for disaster resilience
Achievements/Good practices Essential 2 Identify, understand and use current and future risk scenario
Achievements/Good practices Essential 3 Strengthen financial capacity for resilience
Achievements/Good practices Essential 4 Pursue resilient urban development
Achievements/Good practices Essential 5 Safeguard natural buffers
Achievements/Good practices Essential 6 Strengthen institutional capacity
Achievements/Good practices Essential 7 Strengthen societal capacity
Achievements/Good practices Essential 8 Increase infrastructure resilience
Achievements/Good practices Essential 9 Ensure effective disaster response
Achievements/Good practices Essential 10 Expedite recovery and build back better
Achievements/Good practices Partnerships
Please add major partner(s) and describe briefly the relationship and/or project with the partner.

Partner 1 Partner 2 Etc

Mayors Quote
Please provide a quote from the Mayor (no longer than 30 words) that describes the main achievement or the
importance of disaster risk reduction.

Mayors Quote Please submit a photo of the Mayor, which will be uploaded to the campaign website.
Mayors photo: