After an integrated habitat assessment for each Mahalla (neighbourhood) of Khorog, AKAH, together with international consultants, created maps and a list of key interventions which would make Khorog more resilient, and enable economic growth. Working with development partners including MSDSP, AKAH built a neighbourhood resilience plan template and training for women leaders, to contribute to the development of each Mahalla and the city as a whole.

In addition to  community meetings and consultations, in partnership with the Government of GBAO and the Committee for Architecture and Construction, AKAH organised a unique competition to capture community voices and aspirations for the future of their city.  The ‘My Vision for Khorog’ competition invited people to share their views on the future of the city of Khorog. It was held during summer 2021, and received over 200 entries from all around the world. The competition had no boundaries to participation: no limit for age, nationality and creativity. 

My Vision for Khorog was held as a part of the Khorog Urban Resilience Programme and developed as an initiative to link Government planning and investments to initiatives by the community, the private sector and the AKDN and international partners.

The Khorog Urban Resilience Programme is designed to ensure that resilience is the fundamental driver of assessment and is carried forward as a framework for diagnosis that takes existing frameworks and their definition of urban resilience into account in its deployment. The following resilience categories have been assessed:

Institutional resilience: defined as the “software” or enablers of resilience. This includes processes and structures that allow all actors to participate in the decision-making process and influence strategies for improved urban planning, management and development. This aspect focuses on the relationship between cities and governments and requires adequate and efficient laws, policies, and administrative, operational frameworks.

Socio-economic resilience: mechanisms and activities that allow countries, regions and cities to become drivers of socioeconomic development by creating jobs, increasing household income, generating investments, reducing social tensions and crime, increasing equality and inclusion, creating opportunities for social cohesion, and enhancing security and safety. 

Spatial and environmental resilience: defined as the “hardware” of resilience. This includes all aspects related to planning and design of the urban space, the quality of the natural environment, public/green spaces, and provisions to combat climate change and its related hazards or risks. 

Resilient infrastructure and basic services: an extension of the “hardware” of resilience. This includes ensuring equal access to basic services and infrastructures in times of natural or other disasters and promoting disaster-proof structures to meet vital needs of urban populations. Such infrastructures include streets and roads, bridges, drainage, water and electricity supply, sanitation and solid waste management, hospitals, schools, and telecommunications.