Final round of 100 Resilient Cities challenge opens

The President of the Rockefeller Foundation, Dr Judith Rodin, has opened the third and final challenge for 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) announcing that the Foundation is dedicating an additional US$64 million to 100RC, boosting the Foundation’s total commitment to the global resilience initiative to US$164 million.  

“What we’re learning through the first two rounds of the 100 Resilient Cities Challenge is that not every disruption must become a disaster for cities,” said Rodin. “We can build our cities to be resilient–to be better prepared for, to withstand, an event to transform and grow in the face of these shocks and stresses. And through those same investments, cities not only become future-proof, they become better places to live and work right now. We’re excited to welcome the final 33 cities to join us in this work.”

Through the 100 Resilient Cities Challenge, 100RC is seeking to uncover the next round of partner cities committed to building resilience to the shocks and stresses they face. Through two challenges over the last two years, 100RC has selected 67 cities to join the 100RC Network. Winners of this final round will be announced in April 2016. 100RC will select cities based on their demonstrated commitment to building resilience along with strong mayoral leadership and commitment to the initiative.

“We are excited to recognise the next group of urban resilience pioneers to the 100 Resilience Cities family,” said Michael Berkowitz, President of 100RC. “The leaders of our 100 cities will help create a global practice of urban resilience and help to develop new solutions and new ways of planning for an uncertain future.”

From fault lines to sea level rise, population growth, traffic congestion, violence, the network aims to assist cities facing a “new normal of chronic stresses and acute shocks”.

“Kigali’s membership in the 100 Resilient Cities network further recognises the city’s role as an innovative, progressive city,” said Ndayisaba Fidele, Mayor of Kigali, and whose city was selected in the second round of the 100RC challenge. “This partnership will enable the city to leverage resources, knowledge, and partnerships in new and exciting ways. The lasting effects of this partnership will result in renewed resilience thinking in East Africa and beyond.”

Each city in the 100RC network receives financial and logistical guidance; technical support for developing a resilience strategy; access to service providers, and partners from the private, public and NGO sectors; and membership of the global network of member cities.