Disruptive Technologies for Resilient and Sustainable Cities

Disruptive technologies have made access to data easier, cheaper, and faster than ever before. This has enabled policymakers and city leaders to better plan and deliver services, enhance municipal revenues, and strengthen their city resilience. Sameh Wahba, Global Director of the Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice, shares examples of the World Bank’s experience in leveraging disruptive technologies to enable the development of livable, resilient, and sustainable cities, noting the enabling role technology and the critical importance of active citizen participation, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building.

About Sameh Wahba

Sameh Wahba is the Global Director for the World Bank’s Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice, based in Washington, D.C. The Global Practice, which also covers territorial development, geospatial and results-based-financing, has a portfolio of over 200 projects with $30bn in investment, program-for-results, and development policy lending and 450 staff.

Mr. Wahba is an urban specialist with 25 years’ experience in housing, land, local economic development, urban management and municipal service delivery, and post-disaster reconstruction and recovery. He served in senior management and leadership positions in the Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa Regions. Prior to joining the World Bank in 2004, he worked at the Institute of Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) and at the Harvard Center for Urban Development Studies.

Mr. Wahba holds a Ph.D. and a Master in urban planning from Harvard University, and a Masters and Bachelor degree in Architecture from Cairo University. He co-authored numerous publications including the World Bank’s “Regenerating Urban Land: A Practitioner’s Guide to Leveraging Private Investment” and “Culture in City Reconstruction and Recovery” jointly with UNESCO.