In Nairobi, Tomorrow’s Cities Hub is working in partnership with the government and communities to build disaster risk out of urban development. The research will be of direct benefit to 1 million informal settlement dwellers in Mukuru and Kibera. Internationally the lives and livelihoods of 2 billion people who live in cities of low-to-middle income countries are threatened by floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, and fires. This number is expected to reach 4 billion by 2050. Such impactful research is only possible because of the considerable commitment made by Nairobi City County and by community-based organisations such as the Kounkuey Design Initiative brought together by the research of the Tomorrow’s Cities Hub.

ODA cuts to already programmed research will directly harm the life chances of the most vulnerable today and could potentially erode partnership gains with the UK already achieved over the last few years.