Urban Resilience & Emergency Response

Helping communities withstand crises and build safer, stronger futures.

In the rapidly expanding urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia, vulnerability is often magnified by poverty, weak infrastructure, and recurrent emergencies. Informal settlements are especially at risk — where a single shock, like flooding, fire, or displacement, can devastate entire neighborhoods overnight.

APID’s Urban Resilience & Emergency Response pillar focuses on preparing communities for shocks before they strike, responding quickly and effectively when they do, and strengthening systems for long-term recovery.

We combine emergency relief, disaster preparedness, urban planning advocacy, and community resilience building — ensuring that even in times of crisis, dignity, protection, and hope are preserved. Our work empowers families, youth, and community groups in informal settlements to survive, recover, and rebuild stronger than before.

Regional Challenges

Across East Africa, rapid urbanization is reshaping communities — but without adequate infrastructure, basic services, or disaster preparedness, millions of people living in informal settlements face escalating risks. In Nairobi’s growing slums, Somalia’s urban centers, and Ethiopia’s expanding cities, families contend with:households are left with limited choices — migration, humanitarian dependency, or survival on precarious incomes.

• Frequent flooding, fires, disease outbreaks, and forced evictions
• Poor access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education
• Limited housing security, often relying on makeshift structures
• Heightened vulnerability to displacement during conflict or crises
• Weak early warning systems and slow emergency responses