Planning Inclusive Climate-Resilient Cities in the Global South: A Framework for Equity and Participation

Abstract Rapid urbanization and increasing climate risks pose serious challenges for cities in the Global South, where vulnerable populations often face exclusion from planning processes. Few studies have explicitly combined resilience components and urban planning approaches to resilience. This research aims to develop a conceptual framework for inclusive climate change–resilient urban planning by integrating resilience dimensions with equity and participation in urban governance. This is based on a qualitative analysis of available literature, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and is applied to the case of Dhaka, Bangladesh, a city marked by climate vulnerability and institutional complexity. The proposed framework identifies three core dimensions of resilience—physical, socioeconomic, and institutional—and links them to inclusive planning tools. Findings reveal that although inclusive principles are recognized in Dhaka’s planning policies, implementation is constrained by fragmented governance and limited community engagement. The framework offers practical guidance to urban planners and policymakers for advancing equitable and participatory climate resilience planning. It can be adapted to other cities across the Global South facing similar environmental, social, and governance challenges.