81317134-Support to national and local urban risk and resilience management in Ecuador

The project "Resilient Cities" (CiRes), funded by the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), has been promoting urban resilience in Ecuador since July 2023. The project's primary objective is to integrate comprehensive risk management approaches into both national policies and local urban development processes, considering current and future climate and disaster risks. With its focus on resilient urban development, CiRes aligns with the strategic priorities of sustainable urban development and contributes to the "Climate, Energy, and Just Transition" core area within the BMZ 2030 strategy. It also supports Ecuador's broader climate and disaster resilience commitments, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework, and the New Urban Agenda. To realize these goals, the project adopts a multisectoral approach that bridges disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the urban context. It operates both at the national level-providing advisory services to institutions such as the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MIDUVI), the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNG), and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (MAATE)-and at the local level, working directly with the cities of Chone, Manta, Puyo, and Riobamba. Ecuador faces significant urban challenges due to its high vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change impacts. The country"s geographic and climatic conditions expose it to extreme events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and droughts, leading to substantial human and economic losses. Earthquakes alone have caused over USD 8.5 billion in damages over the past 50 years, while the cyclical El Niño and La Niña phenomena have also led to billions in losses. As climate change intensifies, extreme weather events are expected to increase, exacerbating economic and soci