Community‑Driven Climate Resilience: Insights from Refugee‑Host Integration in Quetta, Pakistan

This session shares practice‑based insights from Quetta, Pakistan, where Afghan refugees and vulnerable host communities live in informal settlements exposed to climate risks and service gaps. Drawing on participatory mapping, socio‑economic surveys, and consultations facilitated by the Health, Education & Environment Program (HEEP), the initiative highlights how inclusive, climate‑resilient solutions can be co‑designed with communities. Key lessons include the role of Community Development Committees (CDCs) in bridging divides, the importance of gender‑positive approaches in infrastructure planning, and the potential of vocational training and awareness campaigns to empower women and youth as resilience leaders. Evidence from settlement assessments demonstrates how solar water filtration, flood‑resistant drainage, and improved education and health facilities can reduce vulnerability while strengthening social cohesion. The Quetta case illustrates how applied practice can inform global agendas by embedding community voices into urban climate adaptation strategies, offering replicable lessons for cities worldwide confronting climate vulnerability and social fragmentation.