Collective learning for resilience in Global South cities: a community-based systems mapping approach to integrated climate and health action.

Introduction: Cities in the Global South face escalating climate change challenges, including extreme weather events that disproportionately affect marginalized populations and exacerbate health risks, such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Climate resilience, defined as the capacity to adapt and recover from climate-related events, requires intersectoral collaboration between governments and civil society.

Methods: This study employs a Community-based System Dynamics approach, leveraging shared learning across four cities-Belo Horizonte (BH, Brazil), Yaoundé (Cameroon), Kingston (Jamaica), and Kisumu (Kenya)-through the Global Diet and Activity Research Network (GDAR). An implementation of the method in BH is detailed, examining drivers and interdependencies shaping community-based climate resilience strategies against heavy rainfalls.

Results: In BH, findings highlight the interplay between urbanization risks, vulnerabilities, heavy rainfall, and NCDs, with visibility, resources, education, and training identified as critical intervention points.

Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of aligning community action with public policy and highlights opportunities for collective learning and resilience-building for climate change in Global South cities.