The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been affected by 388 disasters in the past 35 years. The number of natural disaster in the region has nearly tripled since 1980. With 62% of the population living in cities, the region’s rapid urbanization increases the vulnerability of people and economic assets to disaster events.

In response, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the World Bank have organized a Women Entrepreneurship Resilient Cities (WE’Resilient Cities) competition in the MENA region.