Socio-Economic Pathways to Urban Climate Resilience: Exploring Governance and Incentives for Equitable Climate Action in Global South Cities
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Sipho Felix Mamba, UNESWA
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Nosizo Mthupha, Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Mbabane, Eswatini
Summary:
This study investigates the socio-economic pathways to urban climate resilience in the cities of Mbabane and Manzini, Eswatini, focusing on the role of governance and socio-economic incentives in fostering equitable climate action among marginalized communities. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research reveals a significant gap in the integration of urban populations, particularly informal sector actors, within existing climate resilience initiatives, which predominantly target rural areas. Key findings illustrate that while socio-economic incentives—including capacity-building programs, financial support, and community engagement opportunities—are perceived as effective by 82.4% of respondents, a substantial portion of the informal sector remains unsupported by municipal authorities. Barriers such as lack of legal recognition, limited access to information, and complicated application processes hinder access to these incentives. The study underscores the importance of community engagement and culturally relevant approaches in enhancing resilience and highlights the need for improved governance frameworks that facilitate inclusive participation. Recommendations for policymakers emphasize the need for decentralized governance, integration of local knowledge, and strengthened multistakeholder collaboration to enhance resilience-building efforts in urban settings
This research was part of a multi-country research initiative led by the Global Disaster Preparedness Center of the American Red Cross. Access all final publications here.