A strategic tool designed to help local governments assess their disaster resilience, based on the UN's "Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient."
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Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities
General information
A multi-level assessment tool (Preliminary and Detailed) that allows cities to establish a baseline for resilience, identify gaps in preparedness, and prioritize actions and investments across various sectors.
Developed by UNDRR with support from partners (like USAID and IBM) to operationalize the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction at the local level.
Status
Topics For Preparedness
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Geographical Scope
Population Size
Population Density
Needs Addressed
The difficulty for city governments to measure complex resilience factors and integrate disaster risk reduction into urban planning and budgeting.
The Scorecard includes specific indicators to assess how well city plans protect marginalized and high-risk populations.
Encourages a "whole-of-government" approach, requiring input from departments like planning, finance, health, and emergency services.
Focuses on institutionalizing DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) through legal frameworks and financial allocations.
Evaluates the protective functions of ecosystems and the resilience of critical physical infrastructure (power, water, transport).
To gather data across different city sectors and build a shared understanding of risk among stakeholders.
Workshops, cross-departmental interviews, and data-sharing sessions facilitated by the Scorecard tool.
The results of the Scorecard directly inform the city’s Resilience Action Plan and capital investment priorities.
Strengthens the technical capacity of city officials to manage and mitigate future risks.
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
Offers specialized "Add-ons" for specific risks (e.g., Public Health, Food Systems, Displacement, and Climate Resilience).
English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian (and others).
UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction).
The UN's lead agency for disaster risk reduction coordination globally.
Mayors and local political representatives, disaster managers, urban planners, private sector partners, and civil society.
- 1. Preliminary Assessment (Quick look).
- Detailed Assessment (In-depth analysis).
- Gap Analysis.
- Development of a Resilience Action Plan.
Requires dedicated time from city staff and access to municipal data; external consultants are optional but common.
The assessment typically takes 3-6 months, with periodic re-evaluations (every 2-5 years).
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
Cities that involve the finance department early in the Scorecard process are more likely to secure funding for resilience projects.
Lack of data availability is addressed by using qualitative assessments and expert judgment where quantitative data is missing.
Directly aligned with the Ten Essentials for Resilience, providing a 360-degree view of city risk.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Integrated into the MCR2030 "Resilience Roadmap," ensuring cities progress from assessment to implementation.
Used by over 200 cities worldwide, from small municipalities to megacities.
Available as interactive Excel-based tools and online platforms for automated scoring and visualization.
Staff hours and workshop logistics.
Maintenance of the action plans and monitoring progress over time.
Resilience is not just about "hard" infrastructure; governance, financial capacity, and social inclusion are equally critical.