The Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), through the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative, is partnering with UN-Habitat on a major new programme to strengthen urban climate resilience in Belize and Zambia.
The project; Accelerating Urban Resilience and Pro-poor Climate Action in Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean and Africa (2025–2027); will pilot an innovative competency-based approach to building long-term institutional capacity for climate-resilient urban development.
Both countries face rapid urban growth and increasing climate risk. By 2050, Zambia’s urban population is projected to grow by around 185%, while Belize’s could increase by over 300%. At the same time, both nations face shortages of trained built environment professionals, climate professionals and institutional systems capable of responding to growing urban vulnerability.
The initiative aims to address this challenge by strengthening the capacity of governments, professionals and institutions to integrate climate resilience into urban planning and governance.
Working with national ministries, local governments, universities and professional associations, the programme will co-develop competency frameworks, training programmes and knowledge platforms designed to embed resilience skills within institutions rather than relying on short-term training initiatives.
Key outcomes will include:
- Competency frameworks defining the skills required for climate-resilient urban governance
- Training programmes embedded within universities and professional associations
- Training-of-Trainers programmes and collaborative learning networks
- Stronger institutional ecosystems for urban resilience
- Integration of pro-poor climate resilience measures into urban policies and plans
The project will also support international knowledge exchange, with Belize and Zambia sharing their experiences through global forums such as the World Urban Forum and international climate platforms.
The initiative is supported through the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative, which brings together the Commonwealth Association of Planners, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, the Commonwealth Association of Architects and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Together, these organisations promote sustainable urbanisation, professional development and evidence-based policy across Commonwealth countries.
The project’s first phase begins with a virtual Expert Group Meeting on March 11, 2026, bringing together ministries, universities, professional bodies, and local authorities from Belize and Zambia. This will be followed by in-country training workshops in Belize on March 24-27, 2026.
By strengthening professional competencies, institutional systems and cross-sector collaboration, the initiative aims to develop a practical model that other rapidly urbanising countries can adapt to accelerate climate-resilient urban development.
The project is implemented in partnership with the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) and supported by the UN Development Account (17th Tranche).
