Call for Proposals | Building Resilient and Inclusive Cities for All: (Deadline 1 June, 2025)

Introduction

As disasters intensify across the globe—ranging from heatwaves to floods and violent conflicts—urban areas bear the brunt, incurring over $300 billion in damages annually. Among the most affected are the over 1.3 billion people with disabilities, who are twice as likely to perish during disasters due to inaccessible infrastructure, poor planning, and insufficient support. Given that half of the buildings expected by 2050 are yet to be constructed, now is a critical window to shape our cities with resilience, equity, and sustainability in mind.

The Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub (RICH), seeded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and hosted by the Global Disability Fund (GDF), with support from the International Disability Alliance (IDA), is launching a Call for Proposals for innovative solutions that build cities capable of withstanding crises while ensuring full participation of persons with disabilities.

Opportunity Details:

What is the opportunity?

A call for proposals seeking innovative, inclusive solutions to enhance urban resilience and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Selected proposals may receive support for pilot implementation, capacity building, and knowledge sharing through the RICH initiative.

Who is it for?

Organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), UN entities, city governments, private sector actors, international financial institutions, and development organisations focused on inclusive urban development.

Key Goals of RICH:

•  Foster multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote inclusive urban resilience.
•  Pilot solutions that address gaps in infrastructure, policy, and services.
•  Generate and share best practices through a global knowledge hub.

Key Themes:

• Accessibility: Create environments and systems that allow full participation of persons with disabilities.
• Resilience: Strengthen the ability of cities to withstand and recover from disasters.
• Sustainability: Encourage development that protects the needs of future generations.

Submission Deadline:

• 1 June 2025

How to Apply:

Proposals should be submitted via email to:
[email protected]

Application Materials:

•  Call for Proposals Terms of Reference
• Annex 1: Proposal Template
• Annex 2: Workplan Template

Planned Initiatives by 2026:

•  Pilot inclusive projects in five global cities
•  Build a global platform for knowledge sharing
•  Provide technical support and resources to local stakeholders

Upcoming Events in 2025:

•  Global knowledge workshop
•  Fundraising and expansion of the RICH initiative

Why Support RICH?

•  Promote inclusiveness in urban planning
• Contribute to scalable solutions benefiting millions
• Encourage investment in disability-inclusive development
• Ensure transparency and measurable impact
• Align with global goals such as SDG 10 and SDG 11

Conclusion:

RICH is more than a funding initiative—it’s a transformative opportunity to ensure that the cities of tomorrow are built for everyone. By supporting or applying to this initiative, you contribute to a more equitable, sustainable, and disaster-resilient urban future.