As part of the Civil Society Coordination Program for Disaster-Ready Istanbul, the first District City Councils Consultation and Coordination Meeting was held on December 21 at the Metro Akademi Yenikapı Campus, hosted by the Istanbul City Council Disaster and Emergency Working Group. The meeting, which had intense participation, included representatives from 23 District City Councils and a total of 73 participants. An important step was taken in the coordination and action plans for the process of designing a Disaster-Resilient City and Disaster-Resilient Society.

The Civil Society Coordination Program for Disaster-Ready Istanbul aims to improve civil society coordination in light of the principle of inclusivity, increase interdisciplinary division of labor and cooperation, develop communication bridges, and unite civil society efforts with common sense and consensus in disaster management. It also aims to solidify civil society and public cooperation in the strategic action plans focused on the anticipated Marmara earthquake.

During the meeting organized by the Istanbul City Council, representatives from the Adalar City Council, Ataşehir City Council, Avcılar City Council, Başakşehir City Council, Bayrampaşa City Council, Beşiktaş City Council, Beylikdüzü City Council, Beyoğlu City Council, Çekmeköy City Council, Esenyurt City Council, Güngören City Council, Kadıköy City Council, Kartal City Council, Küçükçekmece City Council, Maltepe City Council, Pendik City Council, Sancaktepe City Council, Sarıyer City Council, Silivri City Council, Şile City Council, Şişli City Council, Tuzla City Council, and Üsküdar City Council expressed their recommendations regarding the necessary requirements for integrated disaster management in their districts and proposals for sustainable collaborations.

The program focuses on establishing mechanisms for effectively monitoring and evaluating the process of creating sustainable disaster policies in local governments by city councils, and on taking strategic steps to strengthen the active role of civil society in the planning process.

With the participation of major civil society organizations, chambers, academics, and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) representatives, thematic strategic objectives were created for the necessary action plans in the Civil Society Coordination Program for Disaster-Ready Istanbul. Workshop Report Link: Report