EVENT: Building Resilience Through Informal Settlement Transformation: Lessons from WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities Finalists
August 12, 2026 | 8:00 - 9:00am EDT
Across the world, more than 1 billion people live in informal settlements, many of which are on the frontlines of climate change. Residents face disproportionate exposure to flooding, extreme heat, landslides, water insecurity and other climate hazards, while often lacking access to adequate housing, infrastructure, public services and formal safety nets.
Yet informal settlements are not only sites of vulnerability—they are also centers of innovation, community leadership and locally driven solutions.
The REHOUSE (Resilient, Equitable Housing, Opportunities and Urban Services) partnership and WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities brought together six previous Prize finalists from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to explore how cities and communities are transforming informal settlements into more resilient, inclusive and thriving neighborhoods.
The event facilitated cross-regional learning among practitioners working at the intersection of housing, climate resilience, and equitable urban development. The panels focused on practical lessons for policymakers, practitioners, community organizations and funders seeking to bridge the housing, climate adaptation and urban development agendas.
