Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report

The Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report documents a global gathering of over 1,200 participants aimed at taking stock of evidence on building resilience across people, communities, urban systems, socio-ecological systems, and market systems. The report emphasizes the need for 'locally led adaptation,' the integration of mixed-methods evidence (combining quantitative data with lived experience), and the bridging of funding gaps for climate resilience, noting that less than $50 billion is spent annually against needs of $160 billion to $340 billion.

• There is a significant funding gap for climate resilience; while annual needs are estimated between $160 billion and $340 billion, actual spending is less than $50 billion, with the private sector contributing less than 2%.
• Resilience evidence is evolving to include 'mixed-methods' that combine quantitative data (surveys, experiments) with qualitative data (citizen science, arts-based methods), while increasingly recognizing lived experiences and Indigenous knowledge as core evidence.
• In people and household resilience, digital platforms for social insurance and assistance show positive results. For example, Rwanda's Ejo Heza defined contribution scheme reached 27% of the working-age population in four years, with 87% of savers from the informal sector.
• Community-led resilience requires moving beyond treating local populations as 'beneficiaries' to recognizing them as key evidence producers. This includes using co-production methods like games, participatory theatre, and murals to codify evidence.
• Urban resilience evidence highlights a 'poverty penalty' in informal settlements. In Mukuru, Nairobi, community-led enumeration showed residents pay 172% more per cubic metre of water and 45-142% more for electricity than formal housing residents.
• Socio-ecological resilience (SER) emphasizes that nature and people are inseparable. Evidence suggests that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in forests positively impact flood, erosion, and wildfire control, though trade-offs may exist regarding water supply.
• Market systems resilience is linked to the resilience of the communities they serve. Local private sector actors are often more resilient during shocks than larger counterparts due to closer connections and faster feedback mechanisms.
• Gender-transformative approaches are necessary to address the disproportionate impact of climate hazards on women. For instance, heat waves reduce the number of hours worked by women farmers by 40% across all African countries.
• In conflict-affected areas, cash transfers and psychosocial interventions have shown positive effects. Traditional governance systems (chiefs and women leaders) are often more effective at administering resources due to intimate community knowledge.
• The forum established three core principles for resilience evidence: 'No evidence about us, without us' (centering communities), 'Mixed methods, plural ways of knowing' (integrating scientific and Indigenous knowledge), and 'Actionable evidence at the appropriate scale'.

APA

Global Resilience Partnership (2023). Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ref_synthesis-report.pdf

Chicago

Global Resilience Partnership. Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report. 2023. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ref_synthesis-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Resilience Partnership |title=Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report |date=2023 |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ref_synthesis-report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalresiliencepartnership2023resilience, author = {{Global Resilience Partnership}}, title = {{Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ref_synthesis-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }