The Challenge

Acute shocks—such as hurricanes or oil spills—have a disproportionate impact on at-risk communities already burdened by chronic stressors such as systemic or institutional racism, poverty, environmental degradation, or health disparities. Disasters and climate hazards will continue to have negative, disruptive effects on at-risk communities, making it increasingly difficult for these communities to prepare for, respond to, or recover from future disasters.

To confront this challenge, local practitioners, community leaders, and decision makers who are responsible for helping their communities withstand disasters and build resilience may benefit from additional knowledge, skills, resources, or partnerships to develop and implement equitable solutions to address the priorities and needs of those communities most at-risk.

Purpose of this Funding Opportunity

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support Communities of Practice (CoP) that work in the area of climate adaptation or disaster resilience to build the knowledge base and capacity of their members (e.g., local practitioners, community leaders, and decision makers) to apply an equity lens to their activities in order to address the needs or challenges of communities that are disproportionately at risk from climate hazards or other disasters. The GRP is particularly interested in supporting CoPs whose members engage with communities at the local level.