Ecosystem-based Flood Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Cities Summary Paper

The document examines urban flood challenges in five Sub-Saharan cities, highlighting the transition from traditional grey infrastructure to Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). It details specific interventions across Accra, Cape Town, Durban, Nairobi, and Mombasa, emphasizing that effective flood governance requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and the integration of social principles to protect vulnerable populations in informal settlements.

• Urban flooding in Sub-Saharan cities is exacerbated by climate change, rapid urbanisation leading to more impervious surfaces, and poor urban planning, which results in construction on floodplains and inadequate solid waste management.
• Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and nature-based solutions (NbS) are used to restore natural ecosystem dynamics to buffer climate impacts, providing co-benefits such as improved public health, livelihood protection, and new income opportunities.
• Effective flood risk management requires Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM), which combines structural elements (both grey infrastructure and natural buffers) with non-structural measures like land use planning and emergency warning systems.
• Specific nature-based interventions implemented across the studied cities include planting vegetation on slopes in Accra, restoring sand dunes and protecting kelp beds in Cape Town, river rehabilitation in Durban, wetland restoration in Nairobi, and mangrove rehabilitation in Mombasa.
• Governance of flood and water systems necessitates cross-organizational collaboration between municipal, district, state, and national governments because water catchment areas often extend beyond municipal boundaries.
• While South African cities show more maturity in climate policy and action, Kenyan cities (Nairobi and Mombasa) have historically biased their urban planning toward grey infrastructure, though they are now beginning to mainstream NbS through research and non-state partnerships.

APA

Gajjar, S. P., Wendo, H., Polgar, A., & Hofemeier, A. (2021). Ecosystem-based Flood Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Cities Summary Paper. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/ecosystem-based-flood-risk-management-summary-Final.pdf

Chicago

Gajjar, Sumetee Pahwa, Hausner Wendo, Ana Polgar, and Alannah Hofemeier. Ecosystem-based Flood Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Cities Summary Paper. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2021. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/ecosystem-based-flood-risk-management-summary-Final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gajjar |first1=Sumetee Pahwa |last2=Wendo |first2=Hausner |last3=Polgar |first3=Ana |last4=Hofemeier |first4=Alannah |title=Ecosystem-based Flood Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Cities Summary Paper |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2021 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/ecosystem-based-flood-risk-management-summary-Final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gajjar2021ecosystembased, author = {Gajjar, Sumetee Pahwa and Wendo, Hausner and Polgar, Ana and Hofemeier, Alannah}, title = {{Ecosystem-based Flood Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Cities Summary Paper}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2021}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/ecosystem-based-flood-risk-management-summary-Final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }