Learning from the city – British Red Cross Urban Learning Project Scoping Study

The study looks at the evolving nature of risk and vulnerability in urban areas relating to natural hazards, urban violence and conflict, markets and livelihoods, health and water, sanitation and hygiene, and shelter, land and the built environment and highlights ways forward.

As the world becomes increasingly urban, humanitarian organizations are being challenged to rethink how they respond to crises affecting city populations. Learning from the City explores the implications of rapid urbanization for humanitarian action and examines how the British Red Cross and its partners can better support vulnerable communities living in towns, cities, and informal settlements. Drawing on experiences from Haiti, Uganda, Djibouti, Nepal, and Mongolia, the report provides practical insights into the risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities that characterize urban environments.

The study highlights how urban residents face a complex combination of everyday and crisis-related risks, including natural hazards, violence, food insecurity, inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and limited access to essential services. It emphasizes that humanitarian needs in cities are often shaped by interconnected social, economic, and political factors that require approaches different from those traditionally used in rural settings.

Through a review of operational experiences and emerging humanitarian practice, the report identifies key challenges in areas such as disaster preparedness, livelihoods, public health, cash programming, shelter, and community engagement. It demonstrates the importance of understanding local contexts, urban markets, social networks, and governance systems in order to design effective and accountable humanitarian interventions.

The report sets out five priority areas for strengthening humanitarian action in urban settings: improving context analysis and assessments, enhancing understanding of cash and markets, engaging more effectively with diverse urban communities, addressing land and shelter challenges, and building stronger partnerships with local institutions and service providers. These recommendations provide a practical framework for organizations seeking to adapt their programmes to increasingly urban humanitarian realities.

While focused on the British Red Cross, the study offers valuable lessons for the wider humanitarian community. It concludes that urbanization will continue to shape the future of humanitarian action and calls for greater innovation, learning, and collaboration to ensure that assistance remains relevant, effective, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable urban populations.