David Dodman
Director, Human Settlements
David Dodman is an expert on climate change vulnerability and resilience in urban centres. His current work focuses on understanding the nature of urban risks, and the way in which daily hazards, major disasters and climate change can affect low-income urban residents. He is working with local organisations, international agencies and universities to build the resilience in urban communities and cities.
He has expertise in urban governance for adaptation, urban livelihoods in the context of climate change and community-based environmental management. His work has a particular focus on eastern and southern Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Climate change vulnerability and resilience in urban centres
- Urban governance for adaptation
- Urban informality and livelihoods in the context of climate change
- Community-based environmental management
Building understanding of the nature of urban risk, and the way in which everyday hazards, disasters, humanitarian emergencies and climate change contribute to this – particularly for low-income urban residents.
Working with local organisations, international agencies, and universities to understand and build the resilience of individuals, households, communities and cities. Regional focus in eastern and southern Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Lecturer in Human Geography, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
English
David Dodman's blog posts
The idea of a 'Special Planning Area' might not immediately be alluring. But for the residents of Mukuru, one of the largest 'slums' in Nairobi, this mundane phrase hides the potential for a radical transformation in their homes and lives.
Our new research ethics policy provides a practical framework for putting IIED's high ethical principles into practice.
At a meeting of community organisations in Ibadan, Nigeria, local government officials and academics explored how to deal with the risks facing Africa's urban poor. Challenging long-held assumptions about how African cities work – and who holds the power – will be key to tackling the build-up of risk.
Taking an urban approach can help identify who is at risk of 'being left behind' and how this can be avoided.
A growing number of refugees and displaced people are living in cities in East Africa and the Horn of Africa – but governments are slow to recognise and meet their needs.
While the plight of Syrian refugees trying to get to Europe is grabbing attention, far more are living in cities and towns in the region. IIED hosted a recent workshop to look at how their needs can be best met.
As cities in Asia face up to the challenges of a changing climate, municipal authorities are finding partnerships with researchers can help inform practice and policy.
How do poverty and vulnerability to climate change overlap? If you're to tackle either issue in urban contexts how must you engage with the other? How can practitioners in cities, in national government agencies and international organisations support urban development that reduces risk and boosts low-income residents' standard of living? And how can community-led processes reduce poverty and build resilience?
Climate change, health and urban resilience are all connected, and this means research and policy in these arenas must join up.
Today IIED publishes an outline of 'our thinking' on research ethics, an output of our most recent strategy's 'research quality' objective. With our current strategy period at an end, and a brand new strategy launched this month, it is time to reflect on why we pursued that objective and where we might go next.
Cities finally got the attention they deserve at the UN climate change conference’s first ever Cities Day, but representatives from least developed cities and grassroots groups barely got a look in, says David Dodman.
Journalists can remind city officials and urban residents about 'hidden finance' for climate resilience, and ensure the money gets well spent, says David Dodman.
What does excellent research mean? And how can it be achieved? We have developed a booklet that sets out a vision of how excellent policy and action research that contributes to sustainable development can be carried out.
David Dodman's blog posts with other authors
How can urban planners deal with the unpredictable future impacts of climate change? IIED researchers visited two Indian cities to see how a learning-based approach can help.
Are indicators a useful way of increasing resource efficiency and resilience in cities – and if so, which indicators are most valuable? Loan Diep and David Dodman report back from the ICLEI World Congress.