PASSA Youth Launch in Asia-Pacific: Leveraging youth engagement and technological innovations for participatory urban planning

After successful pilots in Costa Rica and the Philippines, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) sees an opportunity to capitalize on the power of digitally connected youth collectives to build disaster resilient communities.

In alliance with Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, CRAterre and Architects sans Frontiers Indonesia, it aims to bring PASSA Youth to at least 70 communities around the world over the next three years, reaching 10,000 youth and implementing participatory plans across cities worldwide.

PASSA Youth is a methodology that seeks to develop local capacity to reduce shelter-and settlements-related risk by developing skills in joint analysis, learning and decision-making at community level.

PASSA provides tools to improve the living space, build safe houses and design better communities through participation of community members and stakeholders. The methodology uses powerful digital tools to help user groups envision changes in their physical environment and introduces concepts such as computer programming, digital mapping, data visualization and analysis, Internet of Things, Geographic Information Systems and digital fabrication.

By connecting various actors, experts and other stakeholders, it aims to improve connectivity of communities and support innovative and green initiatives and ensure that all citizens have access to equal opportunities. It will strive to raise awareness around best practices in participatory urban planning and the role that innovative technologies at the hands of trained youth can play in making cities more resilient.