There is a need to protect life and existing development of nearly built-out communities, such as the case of slums in the Philippines. Proposed community improvements should address multiple objectives of risk reduction, livability, and sustainability.

The proliferation of informal settlements is a major challenge in Thailand. Achieving land tenure security and upgrading urban poor communities at citywide scale will require the use of a community driven and city partnership approach.

Evaluation findings of slum upgrading from cities across the world reveal that emphasis on low cost, quick, and visible results in projects poses some problems. Addressing the challenges of different and diverse cities and slums in Asia will require the application of different locally-determined and community-based solutions.

While Asian cities experience a rapid transformation, the number of slum dwellers in the region remains higher than anywhere else. Developing inclusive approaches—recognizing that the poor are a part of the growth and transformation story—is needed to increase access to formal urban housing.

Supporting change on the ground by working with those most at risk, the Bangladesh Coastal Towns Environmental Infrastructure Project is an example of inclusive approach to disaster risk management. The project’s intended outcome is increase in climate and disaster resiliency in coastal towns that benefit the poor and women.

Sanitation, the most off-tracked of all the Millennium Development Goals, has recently received greater attention from government donors and the development community. Solving the sanitation challenge in the developing world will require new innovations that are deployable, large scale, and appropriate in densely-populated areas.

About 40% of the world population still do not have access to simple toilet facilities. Apart from its aim to break the sanitation taboo in global news, the World Toilet Organization advocates for toilet to become a status symbol for the poor.

The delivery of infrastructure and basic urban services does not reach the urban population living in resettlement areas in Myanmar. Addressing exclusion will require a more systematic response that builds on existing self-help capacity to improve own conditions.

Rising exposure to natural disasters has a significant effect on economies. Similarly, there is a significant increase in protection gap. Insurance is one of the cost-effective solutions to mitigate financial impact.

There is a pressing need to address the vulnerability of many Asian economies to catastrophe risk. Commitment and prioritization can lead to major economic and social benefits. Aon Benfield is in a unique position to help in the development of catastrophe pools.