The RURBANISE consortium held a Research Harmonization Workshop on October 11, 2024, bringing together key stakeholders to enhance collaboration and streamline research efforts. The event was held at the ISO Walter Hogan Conference Center, Ateneo de Manila University, and was also accessible to virtual participants via Zoom.
The Building Resilience in the Context of Rapid Urbanization (RURBANISE) project – is a 3.5-year research funded through the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE), a joint program between the Canada International Research Development Centre (IDRC) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It is led by the Technical Assistance Movement for People and Environment, Inc. (TAMPEI) and The University of Sheffield – Urban Institute, and includes 4 other partners: Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, Inc. (HPFPI) through Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, Inc. (PACSII); Institute of Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC); University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) through the University of the Philippines Public Administration Foundation, Inc. (UPPAF); and the University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) through the Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc. (PLANADES).
The primary objectives of the research harmonization workshop are to provide updates on ongoing research projects, harmonize various work package outputs, and collaboratively plan for upcoming activities.
Highlights of the Workshop
Participants engaged in a series of presentations that showcased the consortium’s diverse research initiatives:
The ESSC presented the results of the Community Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (CVCA) Workshops conducted for the seven homeowners associations (HOAs that are part of the project that started on April 20, 2024, and ended on August 16, 2024.
The UP RI and NOAH team discussed hazard simulations for nine HOAs and 3D mapping technologies, including the development of sensors to improve data accessibility and early warning systems.
The SURP-PLANADES provided an update on their household survey, detailing its objectives and preliminary findings.
The updates from Work Package 2 and Work Package 3 were shared by TAMPEI and HPFPI-PACSII, highlighting both progress and challenges in ongoing projects.
The workshop featured a presentation on the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Gender Equality and Inclusion (CLARE GEI) Workshop, which took place at the Park Inn Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 16 to 20, 2024. Two representatives from the RURBANISE team’s Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) working group attended the event. They discussed the workshop’s goals and emphasized their significance to the project.
Looking Ahead
The workshop concluded with participants discussing revised project outcomes based on collaborative feedback. The consortium members outlined the next steps and upcoming key activities, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned in their efforts moving forward.
This event represented a crucial step in enhancing collaboration among RURBANISE members, who are jointly committed to tackling community challenges through research and innovation.