Cities and local governments play a central role in managing disaster risk, yet many continue to face challenges in strengthening disaster risk reduction (DRR) planning in a coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable way. As climate change, health emergencies, and other complex and interconnected risks intensify, the ability of sub-national actors to assess risk, facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue, and translate findings into action has become increasingly critical. Addressing these challenges requires not only technical tools, but also strong local capacity, effective facilitation skills, and collaboration across sectors. 

To help strengthen these foundations, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) convened a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Urban Resilience and the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities from 7 to 10 April 2026 in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The four-day training brought together approximately 30 participants from local and national government institutions, city disaster risk management offices, academia, and the private sector, with strong representation from ARISE Philippines and KPMG India, alongside participants from the Philippines, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, and Brazil. 

Aligned with the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, the training formed part of UNDRR’s broader effort to build sub-national capacity and strengthen collaboration for resilient urban development and locally-led DRR. Designed as a Training of Trainers, the workshop went beyond technical instruction, focusing on building a pool of trainers and facilitators able to support cities in applying resilience diagnostic tools, facilitating inclusive discussions, and guiding cities from resilience assessment to action planning. 

Applying resilience diagnostic tools in practice 

A key outcome of the training was enhanced understanding of how the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities can be used as a practical framework to support learning, dialogue, and decision-making at the city level. Participants explored how the Scorecard helps structure discussions across sectors, highlight interdependencies between different aspects of urban systems, and helps identify shared priorities for action. 

Through guided group exercises, participants applied the scorecard to selected cities to understand its application in real world settings. Emphasis was placed on fostering dialogue, building shared understanding of risks and resilience gaps, and strengthening the facilitation skills needed to guide inclusive, multi stakeholder discussions. 

“Application of the Scorecard varies across cities. What is critical is incorporating DRR action planning into urban planning processes. Also, the lead agency initiating the application of the scorecard should listen to and document the discussions carried out with city stakeholders to reach the scores. The conversation that happens is the most important part of the [Scorecard] workshops.”  

- Ma Bianca Perez, Head of Quezon City DRRM Office, Philippines  

By working across all ten Essentials of the Scorecard, participants strengthened their ability to guide technical discussions while maintaining a strong focus on collaboration and shared understanding. The exercises reinforced that the value of the Scorecard lies not only in the scores themselves, but in the collective conversations that enable cities to identify resilience gaps and develop actionable, evidence-based priorities. 

Developing trainers and facilitators for local-level action 

Beyond technical application, the training placed strong emphasis on facilitation skills and training design, recognizing that sustainable impact depends on local actors being able to lead similar processes independently. Participants examined how to design scorecard-based workshops tailored to different institutional and urban contexts, including defining objectives, identifying relevant sectors, and structuring inclusive agendas. 

Working in groups, participants developed draft designs for in city Scorecard workshops to be delivered following the ToT.  Presenting these designs to peers created space for feedback, reflections, and shared learning, further strengthening confidence in adapting the methodology while maintaining a consistent and structured approach. 

“Training of Trainers programmes are designed to create impact beyond the workshop itself. By building a core group of trainers and resource persons, we are strengthening local capacity to support cities in identifying resilience gaps, prioritizing actions, and embedding disaster risk reduction into sustainable urban development.”  

- Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of Global Education and Training Institute, UNDRR. 

City-to-city exchange further reinforced learning. Experience-sharing sessions from Makati City, Philippines, and Ulsan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea, both MCR2030 Resilience Hubs, provided practical insights into how cities are applying resilience approaches to inform planning, coordination, and decision-making. This was complemented by a session delivered by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea, which offered additional context on coordination mechanism, data use, and institutional approaches to managing systemic urban risk. 

Advancing multi-sector collaboration for resilience 

The workshop also underscored the importance of collaboration beyond government. Strengthening urban resilience requires engagement across sectors, including the private sector, to address complex risks that no single actor can manage alone. Active participation from ARISE Philippines and KPMG India reflected the growing role of businesses in supporting disaster risk reduction aligned with local government priorities. 

“Let us move beyond compliance and corporate social responsibility. Let us embed resilience into our core strategies, our supply chains, and our investments, so that public private partnerships become a strategic investment in safer, stronger, and more resilient cities.”  

- Liza Silerio, Management Executive of SM Supermalls and Co-Chairperson of ARISE Philippines. 

Looking ahead 

By strengthening technical understanding, facilitation skills, and peer networks, the Training of Trainers contributed to building an enabling environment for sub-national resilience. Participants are now better positioned to support cities in applying the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement, and translating assessment outcomes into risk informed planning and action. 

“I’m not an urban planner, I’m not an architect, I’m not an environmental engineer. But today I feel really confident that I can sit with all three of them and tell them that disaster risk reduction is really critical and explain how it can be done.”  

- Prabal Bhardwaj, Director of KPMG India  

The training reflects UNDRR’s continued commitment to advancing urban resilience through capacity building and collaboration under the MCR2030 initiative. By investing in local trainers and facilitators, UNDRR and its partners including ARISE Philippines and KPMG India are supporting cities to take sustained, context specific action to reduce disaster risk and protect development gains.