ANNOUNCEMENTS
This study aims to comprehensively assess the climate vulnerability of an informal settlement by employing a multi-layered approach inspired by the UN-Habitat’s “Global Resilience through Local Action”, to document the bioclimatic strategies suitable in the local context with regards to heat and water stress. The research will focus on a small slum, utilizing the Multi Layered Vulnerability Assessment (MVA) tool developed by UN-Habitat under the RISE-UP flagship programme. This tool is specifically designed to help communities, cities, and local leaders map and analyse vulnerabilities arising from the intersection of climate change hazards, urbanization trends, and biodiversity loss, thereby identifying vulnerability hotspots and the most at-risk populations, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
The assessment will be structured around key parameters, including the physical and spatial characteristics of the settlement, the socio-economic profile of its residents, and the condition of the built environment. The MVA tool facilitates a spatial narrative that enhances understanding of how climate risks, urban form, and environmental degradation interconnect within informal settlements. This comprehensive mapping and analysis will be complemented by direct engagement with the community to document the challenges they perceive and face in their daily lives, ensuring that the assessment captures both technical and experiential dimensions of vulnerability.
Upon identifying the specific challenges and vulnerabilities, the study will turn to documenting pro-poor bioclimatic strategies, drawing on secondary research and global best practices. These strategies are aimed at alleviating the impacts of climate change on urban poor populations and may include locally appropriate interventions such as climate-resilient upgrading of housing, community-led green infrastructure, improved water and sanitation systems, and participatory planning processes that empower residents. The emphasis will be on solutions that are inclusive, context-sensitive, and capable of enhancing both the adaptive capacity and overall resilience of the settlement.
In summary, the study will provide a detailed, multi-dimensional understanding of climate vulnerability in an informal settlement by combining spatial analysis, community perspectives, and evidence-based bioclimatic strategies, thereby contributing actionable insights for building resilience among the urban poor.
Keywords: Vulnerability, climate, heat stress, water stress, community, urban poor.
