2027 RISK Award: Homes at risk: Climate resilience for informal settlements

Informal urban settlements are among the places most exposed to climate-related disaster risks – yet they are still often overlooked in urban disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation planning. Policy frameworks and investment mechanisms frequently rely on aggregated data and formal planning tools that do not reflect the realities of informality. As a result, investment often fails to reach the neighbourhoods and households where needs are greatest. Only a small share of global climate finance benefits the urban poor, reinforcing existing cycles of vulnerability and exclusion.

This is why the 2027 RISK Award focuses on climate resilience in informal and semi-formal settlements. In line with the UNDRR International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026 and its guiding theme, “Resilience starts at home”, the award supports initiatives that reduce climate-related disaster risks where impacts are most immediate and capacities are most constrained. Non-profit organisations were invited to submit project ideas from low- and middle-income countries that strengthen resilience from the household to the community level, addressing locally experienced risks such as extreme heat, flooding and storms.

The call closed as scheduled on 31 July 2026. During the application period, we received 771 submissions – a strong indication of the urgent need for action and of the growing funding gap for climate adaptation and resilience-building measures. We sincerely thank all submitting organisations for their ideas, commitment and work to strengthen communities facing the impacts of climate change.

Most submissions came from non-governmental organisations: 686 applications were submitted by NGOs, around 50 by academic institutions, and the remainder by administrative authorities or other non-profit legal entities. Geographically, the largest share came from Africa with 376 applications, followed by Asia with 298 and Latin America with 85. Bangladesh was the most represented country with 67 project proposals, followed by Kenya with 63, Pakistan with 44, and around 40 each from Uganda, India, Nigeria, Colombia and Nepal. In total, the 2027 RISK Award application process includes submissions from 93 countries.

In the next step, all submissions will be reviewed and assessed based on a set of indicators. The most promising applicants will be invited to submit a full project proposal. Further updates will be shared through the RISK Award channels.