Rockefeller Foundation Opens 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge to Cities Worldwide

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rockefeller Foundation today announced the application process for its 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge has officially opened to cities worldwide. Announced in May, the Challenge is part of the Rockefeller Foundation's $100 million commitment to building urban resilience in cities around the world. Over the next three years, the Foundation will select 100 cities to become a part of a 100 Resilient Cities Network, and provide them with access to the technical expertise and resources needed to create and implement resilience strategies on a city-wide scale.

"With 75 percent of people expected to live in cities by 2050, it is more important than ever that these urban centers are able to withstand shocks and stresses – natural, climate-driven and man-made – and bounce back more quickly," said Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin. "The Rockefeller Foundation has been on the front lines of urban resilience for nearly a decade, and we look forward to applying our expertise and investment to help more cities weather and emerge stronger from the challenges of our 21^st century world."

Cities will be judged on a range of criteria, including how well they will address the specific needs of poor or vulnerable people inside their municipality. Selected cities will receive:

• Membership in the 100 Resilient Cities Network which will provide support to member cities and share new knowledge and resilience best practices.
• Support to hire or fund a Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) in their city to oversee the development of a resilience strategy and be part of a learning network of other CROs.
• Support to create a resilience plan, along with tools and resources for implementation. 

"Building resilience is neither a top-down nor a ground-up process – it requires collaboration and leadership at all levels of governments and across every sector," said Michael Berkowitz, incoming Managing Director for the 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge. "Through this challenge, the Rockefeller Foundation will make it possible for cities to develop resilience plans that respond to each city's individual geographies, demographics and needs, as well as provide the resources to hire a Chief Resilience Officer responsible for coordinating the different stakeholders and ensuring resilience remains a priority." 

To apply, municipal government leaders and major institutions can submit an application on behalf of their city. All entrants will be required to submit a letter of support from the senior-most representative of their city's government, whether elected or appointed. Only one entry from each city will be eligible for consideration in the challenge. The deadline for registering for the Challenge is September 23, 2013.

To learn more about the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge, and to fill out an application, visit www.100resilientcities.org.

About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation aims to achieve equitable growth by expanding opportunity for more people in more places worldwide, and to build resilience by helping them prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. Throughout its 100 year history, The Rockefeller Foundation has enhanced the impact of innovative thinkers and actors working to change the world by providing the resources, networks, convening power, and technologies to move them from idea to impact. In today's dynamic and interconnected world, The Rockefeller Foundation has a unique ability to address the emerging challenges facing humankind through innovation, intervention and influence in order to shape agendas and inform decision making.  For more information, please visit www.rockefellerfoundation.org.

SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation