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Design and Construction of an Urban Runoff Research Facility
Published on: August 8, 2014
Urban settlements' vulnerability to flood risks in African cities: A conceptual framework.
Rafiu O Salami1, Jason K von Meding1, Helen Giggins1
1School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, Australia.
Jamba (Potchefstroom, South Africa)
|June 30, 2018
Summary
Global flood disasters are increasing, disproportionately affecting vulnerable urban populations in Africa due to inadequate government support. This study develops a new framework to assess urban flood risk vulnerability in Africa, focusing on risk perception and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Urban Planning
- Disaster Risk Reduction
Background:
- Global flood disasters are increasing in frequency and severity, causing significant human and economic losses.
- Developing countries in Africa are particularly vulnerable due to limited resources and inadequate government support for urban residents.
- Existing flood risk assessment frameworks are often ineffective in the African context, highlighting the need for context-specific solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel framework for assessing urban settlements' vulnerability to flood risks specifically tailored for African cities.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed framework in identifying and measuring vulnerability drivers in urban communities.
- To enhance the understanding of flood risk perceptions and behaviors among vulnerable populations in African urban areas.
Main Methods:
- Employs a participatory and mixed-method approach to socially construct vulnerability.
- Integrates relevant literature and existing vulnerability assessment frameworks.
- Tests the framework in three urban communities within Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria, focusing on risk perception and behavior.
Main Results:
- The framework aims to provide a versatile tool for assessing, identifying, and mitigating flood disaster risks.
- It focuses on understanding the vulnerability of the urban poor to both natural and human-induced hazards.
- The ongoing testing in Ibadan seeks to validate the framework's applicability and effectiveness in the African urban context.
Conclusions:
- Accurate assessment of people's and communities' vulnerabilities is crucial for effective disaster risk reduction.
- The developed framework offers a promising approach to address the specific challenges of flood risk assessment in African cities.
- Mitigating the effects of flood disasters requires tailored strategies that consider local contexts and the needs of vulnerable populations.
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