Manizales, capital of the department of Caldas in Colombia, has earned a rare distinction from the United Nations. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction certified the city as a Resilience Node in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative, praising its model for handling risks from landslides and climate events. That resilient city now stands as a reference for Latin America.
The certification highlights a practical approach to threats in a hilly area prone to soil slips. The Global Coordination Committee, with members such as UN Habitat, UNDP, World Bank, and ICLEI, confirmed Manizales meets standards in risk governance, safe planning, strong infrastructure, and community roles. This places the city among global leaders in preventive strategies.
Manizales’ multi‑hazard warning and infrastructure praised by the UN
A multi‑hazard early warning system forms the backbone of the model. It tracks weather and geological signals to forecast landslides, a main danger due to the city’s steep slopes and rainy seasons. Real‑time alerts allow quick action, protecting lives and property before disasters strike.
The city has completed over 1,000 infrastructure projects to cut risks. These include retaining walls, drainage channels, and soil stabilization in high‑threat zones. The “Guardianas de la Ladera” initiative employs women to monitor and maintain these works, blending technical engineering with local knowledge and steady jobs. That resilient city builds strength from its own people.
The pattern reveals a shift from reaction to prevention. In 2024 and early 2025, Manizales recorded no landslide fatalities, even during intense rains, a clear gain over past years when slips often claimed lives. Fewer homes and roads have been affected, proving that sustained investment pays off in real safety.
Community and governance in risk management
Governance ties the pieces together. The city coordinates across agencies for unified emergency response, training, and public education on risks. Residents take part through neighborhood watches and drills, turning awareness into collective action.
This community focus extends to vulnerable groups. Programs reach Indigenous Nasa families and low‑income areas, replacing risky land use with safer alternatives while preserving cultural ties. The resilient city succeeds on inclusion, not just concrete and sensors.
The certification also recognizes urban planning that guides safe growth. New developments avoid high‑risk slopes, and retrofits strengthen older zones. Those figures are not merely counts; they show how local practices sustain safety under climate stress.
Future action plan and regional influence
The UN will back a 2024–2027 Action Plan to build on these gains. Priorities include better data tools, stronger supply chains for emergencies, and partnerships to share lessons with other cities. Manizales will host exchanges to spread its model across Colombia and Latin America.
Other honors underscore the momentum. UNESCO named Manizales a Creative City of Gastronomy, and the National Planning Department ranked it high in public management and territorial planning. These build a profile of a city that turns challenges into strengths.
Even so, risks persist. Climate change brings heavier rains and shifting patterns, testing any single model’s limits. Experts call for national scaling of early warnings and more funding for rural areas beyond urban centers.
Manizales proves that a resilient city starts with bold prevention over crisis response. Its zero fatalities in recent rainy seasons and 1,000 infrastructure works reflect decades of quiet investment now validated globally. The real test lies ahead: whether this blueprint spreads nationwide to shield more Colombians as disasters grow more frequent and fierce.