Academics and policymakers from the UK and India, including representatives from London and Delhi, came together in London for a workshop focused on advancing inclusive disaster risk governance. The event facilitated meaningful knowledge exchange and discussions on policy innovations, challenges, and pathways to ensure more equitable disaster risk reduction.

Collaborative Efforts between UCL RDR and IIT Delhi

The workshop was part of a project led by University College London’s Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (UCL RDR) and the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi’s School of Public Policy (IIT-D SPP). This collaborative initiative brings together academic research, policy dialogue, and practical workshops, with activities including:

• · Literature reviews to gather evidence and insights;
• · Conversations with academics and policymakers to explore challenges and solutions;
• · Workshops held in both Delhi and London, fostering cross-regional exchange.

Tomorrow’s Cities Contribution

The Tomorrow’s Cities team played a key role in the London workshop, with contributions from:

• · Professor Mark Pelling (UCL RDR),
• · Dr Thaisa Comelli (UCL RDR),
• · Dr Max Hope (Leeds Beckett University),
• · Dr Emin Yahya Menteşe (ANOFA Engineering), and
• · Dr Tanvi Deshpande (LSE).

The team shared critical insights and case studies, highlighting:

• · The role of urban and risk data – for modelling and urban planning activities – in understanding future inequities shaped by decision-making processes.
• · Approaches to integrating diverse social groups and positionalities into planning processes, ensuring inclusivity and reflecting a variety of perspectives on what desirable risk reduction through futuring methods looks like.

These discussions emphasised the importance of embedding equity into disaster risk governance to avoid exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.

Policy Brief: Reflections and Recommendations

The workshop culminated in the production of a Policy Brief, authored by project leads from UCL RDR and IIT-D SPP:

• · Prof Mark Pelling (UCL RDR),
• · Dr Thaisa Comelli (UCL RDR),
• · Dr Anshu Ogra (IIT-D SPP), and
• · Dr Rajarshi Dasgupta (IIT-D SPP).

The brief synthesises key reflections from the UK-India collaboration, presenting:

• · Cross-cutting lessons applicable to both London and Delhi;
• · City-specific insights on addressing governance challenges and advancing inclusive disaster management.

Looking Ahead: Building on Synergies

The collaboration between UCL RDR, IIT-D SPP, and Tomorrow’s Cities continues to evolve. The teams are now exploring synergies for a large-scale research project to deepen the understanding of inclusive disaster risk governance and its implementation across diverse urban contexts.