Empower Ukraine: Building resilience through holistic capacity building and climate adaptation

Building resilience through holistic capacity building and climate adaptation is essential as urban systems face unprecedented challenges from multi-hazard risks and climate change, particularly in conflict-affected regions. The Empower Ukraine program (https://metainfrastructure.org/capacity-building/) exemplifies a holistic and collaborative approach to addressing these challenges. It focuses on restoring and enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure in Ukraine, as the country aims to rebuild its damaged infrastructure in a sustainable and resilient way. This three-year initiative, led by the University of Birmingham in partnership with BridgeUkraine.org, combines interdisciplinary approaches, capacity-building efforts, and knowledge transfer to enhance urban resilience and sustainability in a multi-hazard context.

The program integrates bilingual seminars, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), and Microcredentials to train thousands of young researchers and engineers, policymakers, and stakeholders. By leveraging standardised methodologies such as Eurocode design principles and engaging a diverse network of experts, Empower Ukraine bridges gaps in knowledge and practice aiming to foster a strong community of practice. This ensures climate-adaptive and resilient infrastructure reconstruction in a country that has suffered extensive destruction of its build and socioeconomic ecosystems. The initiative also emphasises co-design and participatory processes, empowering local stakeholders to address cascading and compounding risks across physical, socio-economic, and environmental dimensions.

We will present actionable insights from the program, including the use of advanced digital tools, such as Digital Twins and satellite imagery for multi-hazard risk assessment. Additionally, we will demonstrate the integration of resilience and sustainability metrics into the prioritization of the reconstruction of large portfolios of transport assets. Highlighting the integration of climate change adaptation strategies with disaster risk reduction efforts, the paper will explore decision-support tools and governance frameworks aligned with the UN Sendai Framework and EU recovery plans.

By fostering collaboration, harmonising training frameworks, and prioritising sustainability, Empower Ukraine showcases how holistic, interdisciplinary approaches can address complex urban vulnerabilities, enabling cities to adapt and thrive in the face of multi-hazard risks and climate challenges.