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3.5.1 Characteristics of resilient cities

Resilient cities reveal several qualities that allow them to withstand, respond to, and adapt quickly
to shocks and stresses. Cities can work to develop these characteristics. Some simple actions that
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cities can take are noted in the table below.

Table 3: Characteristics of resilient cities and how to develop them

Characteristic Description How to develop this
Adaptive Manages uncertainty by evolving – Become persistent about measuring and
modifying standards, norms or past monitoring to understand what works
behaviour; uses evidence and knowledge and what does not; change anything that
gained from experience when making is not working, observe the results and
decisions about the future iterate until it works
Robust Able to absorb shocks and emerge Evaluate points of weakness in key city
without significant loss of functionality; systems and strengthen them; make
robustness depends on a system that plans for longer-term improvements of
is well-designed, built and managed to critical weak points
absorb the impact of a shock and continue
to operate
Redundant Intentionally develops or creates access Work with a wide range of suppliers,
to more than one source of action, service organisations and other city
or service provider so that spare capacity stakeholders; identify key points
is available when faced with unexpected of failure and plan for redundant
demand, a disruptive event or extreme infrastructure, systems and skills
pressure
Flexible Individuals, households, businesses, Encourage flexible behaviour in the
communities and government adjust their municipal structures by encouraging
behaviour or actions to respond rapidly to changes that are supported by evidence
change and monitored for effectiveness
Resourceful Uses available resources in innovative Encourage problem-solving using
ways and sources additional resources available, local resources, rather than
when required to effectively and quickly seeing costly, inaccessible “best”
restore essential services and systems solutions as the only option
in a crisis or under highly constrained
conditions
Inclusive Diverse actors and communities are fully Use simple technologies to engage
consulted, engaged and empowered in all city stakeholders in designing
the policy process, including in the policy policies, making decisions, innovating,
design stage, when possible implementing interventions, and
evaluating the results
Integrated Uses a co-operative and, ideally, Work to cross boundaries between city
collaborative, or participatory approach to functions and systems, and to encourage
policy and programming that transcends participation from a wide range of city
sectoral and administrative boundaries stakeholders
to better ensure coherent decisions and
effective investment

44 U4SSC: Simple ways to be smart