ICUH 2024: A Healthier Horizon: Activating Urban Health Strategies for a Climate

The USAID-funded Asia Resilient Cities (ARC) project partners with cities in Asia to foster resilient and livable environments capable of withstanding shocks and stresses. By promoting sustainable relationships between residents, governments, and other stakeholders, ARC addresses the interconnected nature of health, climate, and economic resilience—an approach essential for ensuring planetary health.


ARC's unique methodology employs systems thinking, which seeks to incorporate perspectives from diverse city stakeholders, particularly those whose voices have historically been marginalized. This approach results in comprehensive, creative, and cost-effective plans that effectively address inequities and enhance resilience at both the community and city levels. As cities across Asia and the globe prepare for future climate-induced shocks and stresses, ARC's bespoke approach to co-creative systems mapping, adapted from Engaging Inquiry and influenced by the Stockholm Resilience Center and the Red Cross’ "Designing Solutions for Urban Community Resilience," has proven invaluable. What Participants Will Learn:


Understanding Complex Urban Challenges: Through interactive activities and real-world case studies, participants will learn how to apply systems thinking to grasp the multifaceted challenges faced by cities.


Collaborative Strategy Development: Participants will engage in hands-on exercises to explore methods for devising strategies that thoughtfully balance differing perspectives using a systems thinking approach.


Integrating Community Perspectives: By participating in role-playing scenarios and group discussions, participants will understand how to incorporate community voices to develop inclusive, long-term, effective solutions.


This interactive session is intended for policymakers, program designers and implementers, donors, and community organizers. However, it will provide valuable insights for anyone interested in co-creation and systems thinking methods, particularly in the context of building climate-resilient and adaptable urban environments.