Water resilient green cities for Africa

project summary

The urban population in Africa will triple to 1.2 billion by 2050 and cause massive challenges for the management of urban areas (UN-Habitat, 2010). The water challenge is exacerbated by climate change which will increase flood and drought risks and affect livelihoods for millions of urban dwellers (IPCC, 2008). One option is to expand cost-intensive sewer infrastructure. Another is to utilize the landscape for stormwater management. Besides being a much cheaper option, using the landscape offers synergies addressing other challenges such as improved water supply, enhanced green structure for urban agriculture, and possibilities to improve decentralized options in informal areas with a potential for a more-inclusive decision-making process. This project explores the opportunities and barriers for ‘landscape based stormwater management’ by analyzing technical, institutional and livelihood aspects for the best solutions to be developed and tested in pilot sites. The project is developed jointly by FLD and research institutions, stakeholders, and users in Addis Ababa and Dar es Salaam and brings into play expertise on urban planning, ecology, and water management. The project is organised in packages on: Green spaces and livelihoods; Stormwater management; Planning and governance; and Research capacity building. The project comprises six PhD students and three postdocs. Knowledge will be disseminated through MSc-level courses, policy recommendations, and research articles