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Strengthening cultural resilience
Supporting African cities to integrate culture, heritage, and the arts into climate adaptation for inclusive and resilient communities.
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About
Project summary
The Race to Resilience Culture (RTRC) initiative, led by the U.S. Office and Africa Secretariat of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, is building climate resilience by embedding culture, heritage, and the arts into community adaptation strategies. With support from the Climate Heritage Network and funding from The Mellon Foundation, RTRC champions historically underserved communities across the U.S. and Africa, recognising cultural identity as a powerful driver of local climate action. By 2026, RTRC will mobilize 75 cities to commit to culture-based resilience, tracking measurable progress along the way. The inaugural RTRC cohort includes 31 pioneering communities. A global learning platform, the RTRC Academy, will launch in 2026 to share insights and best practices. As the first and largest network of over 2,500 local governments committed to sustainability, ICLEI is proud to lead this bold movement where culture is central to climate resilience.
The Race to Resilience Culture (RTRC) initiative, led by the U.S. Office and Africa Secretariat of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, is building climate resilience by embedding culture, heritage, and the arts into community adaptation strategies. With support from the Climate Heritage Network and funding from The Mellon Foundation, RTRC champions historically underserved communities across the U.S. and Africa, recognising cultural identity as a powerful driver of local climate action. By 2026, RTRC will mobilize 75 cities to commit to culture-based resilience, tracking measurable progress along the way. The inaugural RTRC cohort includes 31 pioneering communities. A global learning platform, the RTRC Academy, will launch in 2026 to share insights and best practices. As the first and largest network of over 2,500 local governments committed to sustainability, ICLEI is proud to lead this bold movement where culture is central to climate resilience.
Project aims
- Support underserved communities through Culture and Heritage-Based Strategies (CHBSs).
- Center resilience-building in cultural heritage programs.
- Normalise culture as a core pillar in climate planning.
- Mobilise 75 cities to commit to culture-based climate adaptation by 2026.
- Support underserved communities through Culture and Heritage-Based Strategies (CHBSs).
- Center resilience-building in cultural heritage programs.
- Normalise culture as a core pillar in climate planning.
- Mobilise 75 cities to commit to culture-based climate adaptation by 2026.
Through a free, year-long cohort program, African and U.S. cities join forces to lead on culture-based climate resilience, sharing knowledge, amplifying underserved voices, and positioning their communities as global champions of inclusive, heritage-driven adaptation.
Project partners
The project team
Strengthening cultural resilience team
Dania Petrik
Senior Specialist: Climate Change, Energy and Resilience
Meagen Swain
Professional Officer: Climate Change, Energy & Resilience
