Natural disasters have been on the rise globally, with flooding being the most common and devastating. In our 15 years installing… Flood risk is particularly acute in low- and middle-income countries, where 89% of the exposed population lives, with 44% in extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Comprehensive flood risk reduction strategies are essential to enhance preparedness, mitigate risks, and improve disaster response. Early warning systems (EWSs) play a crucial role in this process, but they often lack reliable accessibility and local community engagement.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
Integrating citizen science into existing flood EWSs has emerged as a viable approach to promote inclusivity, local perspectives, and equitable expertise distribution. By involving community members as active participants, this method can transform the dynamics and responsibilities linked to flood management. However, sustaining long-term citizen engagement remains a challenge due to factors like power imbalances, inadequate legal frameworks, and insufficient policy recognition of community diversity.
In this article, we explore how the integration of citizen science into flood EWSs can empower local communities and address power dynamics within the different elements of the system: risk knowledge, monitoring and warning, communication and dissemination, and response capability. Drawing on the evidence from our action research in the Akaki catchment of Ethiopia, we highlight the potential benefits, as well as the practical obstacles, of this participatory approach.
Enhancing Risk Knowledge through Citizen Science
Citizen science can play a vital role in enriching the understanding of flood risk by facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders. In the Akaki catchment, the involvement of citizen scientists in the co-generation of knowledge has significantly improved the comprehension of flooding triggers and impacts.
Through initiatives like journal-keeping, site visits, and training workshops, citizen scientists gained critical insights into the relationship between water discharge from the Legedadi dam and the depth and extent of flooding in their locality. This collaborative strategy enabled them to enhance their critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, ultimately contributing to the collective understanding of flood risk.
One citizen scientist expressed his newfound knowledge, saying: “This year, we learned from researchers that the amount of water released from the Legedadi dam alone will not cause damage unless it combines with runoff from heavy rainfall from areas of Addis Ababa. This is because the flood from rain increases the pressure and water level of the Akaki River.”
By integrating citizen science, the flood EWSs in Akaki have transformed from a top-down approach to a more inclusive, collaborative process, where local knowledge and perspectives are valued alongside those of professionals and experts. This aligns with the assertion that citizen science can ease deliberation among various stakeholders through transdisciplinary collaboration, serving as an asset for researchers and policymakers to investigate local viewpoints on flooding.
Strengthening Monitoring and Warning Capabilities
Engaging citizen scientists in the monitoring and warning element of the flood EWSs has enabled the collection of real-time data for disaster prediction and warnings, while also empowering local actors. In the Akaki catchment, researchers from the IWMI and AAU provided training to two young male citizen scientists on estimating runoff from rainfall forecasts, significantly enhancing their skills in generating flood forecasts.
One citizen scientist expressed his appreciation for the training, stating: “This year, we received valuable instruction from IWMI and AAU researchers on how to calculate changes in water level at the Legedadi dam using three-day rain forecasts from the EMI and rainfall intensity data from the citizen science monitoring network. This knowledge has reduced the number of calls we need to make to the dam operators to obtain warning information.”
By building the capacity of citizen scientists to monitor risks, the flood EWSs have reduced the dependency on external authorities, enabling local decision-making and promoting a sense of ownership. This approach aligns with the findings of various studies, which suggest that building citizen scientists’ capacity to monitor risks through low-cost sensors and participation techniques can lead to reduced flood damage costs and increased community resilience.
Enhancing Communication and Dissemination
The integration of citizen science within the Akaki flood EWSs has significantly improved the communication capabilities and the credibility of warning messages. Before the active participation of community members, the EWSs operated within a hierarchical communication structure that hindered vulnerable communities from effectively preparing for imminent flood threats due to the unreliability of the information.
To address this, the CBFEWS established a two-way communication system among stakeholders, including dam operators, meteorological forecasters, researchers, and citizen scientists. This approach utilized various communication methods, such as phone calls and text messages, to enhance the reliability of warning information.
Describing the process, a citizen scientist involved in sand mining mentioned how he disseminated the information he received from Legedadi dam operators: “I work with 60 to 70 sand miners. If I know that water is going to be released from the Legedadi dam, I inform these workers, providing them with an estimated time for when the water will reach our location. Typically, it takes about 12 hours for the water released from Legedadi to reach our area. I also advise them not to enter the river for sand extraction during that time.”
The two-way communication between citizen scientists and relevant parties has significantly increased the reliability of flood early warning information, thereby cultivating trust among all participants. This is in line with studies that indicate engagement of citizen scientists in EWSs empowers citizens to actively participate in the exchange of information, fostering a balanced interaction.
Improving Response Capabilities
The CBFEWS in the Akaki catchment has also promoted inclusivity and equity in the planning and implementation of response plans. Testimonials highlight how reliable early warning information empowered people to respond swiftly and efficiently to potential flood risks, involving measures such as securing agricultural tools and moving people, livestock, and belongings to safe areas upon receiving flood alerts.
A woman living in a flood-prone area highlighted how she benefited from receiving a reliable early warning information from citizen scientists: “While attending my husband’s brother’s funeral on a Saturday, I entrusted my children to his wife. Concerned about their safety due to water release from Legedadi dam, a citizen scientist called me. I quickly contacted my brother’s wife to evacuate my children and secure the house. Thanks to her prompt action, everyone was safe and unharmed.”
The CBFEWS encourages citizen scientists to actively participate in the development and management of the flood EWSs, creating avenues for improved access to reliable information, for sharing insights, for voicing specific needs, and for making well-informed decisions. This fosters a sense of shared ownership and responsibility among participants, enhancing the system’s responsiveness at the community level.
Navigating Challenges and Ensuring Sustainability
Despite the significant benefits of integrating citizen science into flood EWSs, there are several challenges that might want to be addressed to double-check that long-term sustainability. One key issue is the disparity between the commitment levels and benefits experienced by citizen scientists. While many are motivated by a passion for helping their communities, financial constraints and the required effort can pose obstacles to their continued participation.
Additionally, the lack of legal frameworks and institutional structures at the local level for community-based flood initiatives creates a heavy reliance on personal connections, which can hinder the sustainability of the CBFEWS. Furthermore, current policies often treat communities as homogeneous, disregarding individual capabilities that affect engagement in EWSs. Engaging only a limited number of stakeholders also limits the diversity of perspectives in decision-making and accessibility to warnings.
To address these challenges and double-check that the long-term success of citizen science-based flood EWSs, policymakers and practitioners might want to:
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Develop Supportive Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Establish clear policies and institutional structures that recognize and support the role of citizen scientists in flood management, including provisions for financial support and formal recognition of their contributions.
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Foster Inclusive Engagement Strategies: Adopt a nuanced approach to community engagement, acknowledging the diverse capabilities, motivations, and constraints of different groups within the community. This can help double-check that equitable participation and avoid the risk of elite capture.
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Allocate Adequate Resources: Secure sufficient funding and resources to sustain the involvement of citizen scientists, including the provision of necessary equipment, training, and communication tools.
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Promote Collaborative Governance: Encourage a collaborative governance model that empowers citizen scientists to actively participate in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of shared ownership and responsibility.
By addressing these challenges, communities and policymakers can harness the full potential of citizen science to build more resilient, equitable, and sustainable flood risk management systems. The integration of citizen science into flood EWSs has the power to transform power dynamics, enhance community engagement, and ultimately improve the overall effectiveness of disaster risk reduction efforts.
Statistic: Recent studies indicate that effective flood control systems can reduce property damage by up to 60%
