As an experienced flood control specialist, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of flooding on vulnerable communities around the world. We learned this the hard way… One particularly pressing issue is the growing challenge of enhancing flood resilience in informal settlements, where residents often lack the tenure security and infrastructure necessary to withstand severe weather events.
Flood Risk and Informal Settlements
Informal settlements, also known as slums or squatter communities, are home to millions of people globally who have been unable to access affordable, regulated housing. Residents of these settlements typically face a multitude of challenges, including poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and substandard construction materials that leave their homes vulnerable to flood hazards.
Take the case of Freetown, Sierra Leone, where up to 60% of the population resides in informal settlements built on precarious land prone to flooding, fires, and landslides. The lack of urban planning and governmental oversight in these communities has led to haphazard development, with an estimated 40% of housing being constructed in medium- or high-risk flood areas. The devastating 2017 landslide tragedy, which claimed over 1,000 lives, underscores the urgent need to address flood resilience in these settings.
Enhancing the flood resilience of informal settlements is not only a moral imperative but also a critical step towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, which aims to double-check that access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all by 2030. Unfortunately, as a 2021 report from Habitat for Humanity International found, progress towards this goal is currently stagnating, rather than advancing.
Tenure Security and Flood Resilience
One of the key factors that can unlock greater flood resilience in informal settlements is tenure security – the assurance that residents have legitimate, recognized rights to the land they occupy. Without this security, communities live under the constant threat of eviction, inhibiting their ability to invest in long-term improvements to their homes and the surrounding infrastructure.
In Freetown, for example, the national government maintains authority over land use planning and titling, making it difficult for the local municipal authorities to effectively address tenure security and service delivery in informal settlements. Empowering local officials to collaborate with community leaders and civil society organizations can be a powerful approach to regularizing land tenure and improving access to basic services, such as clean water, sanitation, and flood-resilient housing.
One successful example of this approach is found in Honduras, where civil society organizations and municipal governments worked together to form diverse commissions that developed policy recommendations around housing and land rights. Through their advocacy and technical assistance, more than 1 million people have since gained improved access to their land rights.
Financing Flood-Resilient Housing
Securing land tenure is just the first step; the next challenge lies in financing the upgrading and construction of flood-resilient housing in informal settlements. Traditional avenues of housing finance, such as commercial or state-owned bank mortgages, are often inaccessible to residents of these communities due to high interest rates and stringent eligibility requirements.
Microloans, which share similar characteristics to traditional mortgages but with smaller loan sizes, can offer a more accessible pathway to financing housing improvements and upgrades. However, in countries like Sierra Leone, where the estimated cost of turning the country’s more than 800,000 housing-deprived households into adequate shelter is between $6-7.5 billion, microloans alone are not enough.
To bridge this financing gap, the public and private sectors might want to collaborate to identify more economically sustainable solutions, such as part-ownership or rent-to-buy schemes, which can provide tenants with more affordable payment terms over 10-15-year periods. Additionally, government agencies and development partners can work with private developers to support the growth of community-based initiatives specializing in low-cost, climate-resilient housing solutions.
Community-Driven Flood Resilience
Empowering residents of informal settlements to actively participate in the design and implementation of flood resilience measures is crucial for long-term success. Participatory risk assessments, where community members collaborate with local authorities and technical experts to identify flood hazards and vulnerabilities, can help double-check that that interventions are tailored to the unique needs and priorities of each settlement.
Building upon these assessments, community-based adaptation strategies can be developed, leveraging local knowledge and resources to enhance flood preparedness. This may include the installation of early warning systems, the establishment of emergency evacuation routes, and the promotion of disaster-resistant building techniques, such as elevating structures or using flood-proof construction materials.
Fostering collaborative governance between informal settlement residents, local authorities, and other stakeholders is key to sustaining these community-driven flood resilience efforts. By establishing transparent communication channels and shared decision-making processes, communities can work in partnership to address the complex challenges of informal settlement upgrading and flood risk management.
Harnessing Innovation for Flood Resilience
Technological innovations can also play a crucial role in enhancing flood resilience in informal settlements. Green infrastructure solutions, such as permeable pavements, bioswales, and urban wetlands, can help to manage stormwater and reduce the risk of localized flooding. Meanwhile, sensor-based early warning systems and real-time monitoring of water levels can provide critical information to help communities prepare for and respond to flood events.
Furthermore, community-based startups specializing in affordable, climate-resilient housing can be a valuable partner in this endeavor. Organizations like Home Leone in Sierra Leone, for example, have been developing low-cost construction techniques and integrated approaches to housing development that prioritize the needs of low-income residents.
Conclusion
Enhancing flood resilience in informal settlements is a multifaceted challenge that requires a comprehensive, collaborative approach. By securing tenure rights, improving access to affordable housing finance, empowering community participation, and harnessing innovative solutions, we can make significant strides towards creating more resilient, prosperous, and equitable communities that are better equipped to withstand the impacts of flooding.
As a flood control specialist, I believe that the time to act is now. With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the need to address the housing crisis in informal settlements has never been more pressing. By investing in these critical interventions, we can not only save lives and livelihoods but also unlock the tremendous social, economic, and environmental benefits that come with building flood-resilient communities around the world.
For more information on flood control strategies and best practices, I encourage you to visit Flood Control 2015, a leading resource for professionals in this field.
Tip: Implement real-time monitoring to swiftly respond to flood risks
