In 2015 and 2016 KDI worked with Kibera residents, local and national authorities, and other civil society organizations to build the capacity of communities in Kibera to adapt and respond to flooding. The overall objective of this project was to create a “toolkit” that could be used to implement flood risk reduction strategies in Kibera (and ultimately in other informal settlements) while incorporating local perspectives.

KDI approached this project from three angles. First, we worked at the community level, consulting with Kibera residents to gather information on vulnerability and assess local options for flood disaster response. Secondly, we worked at the municipal level to develop elements of the strategic flood risk assessment tool and at the same time improve the city’s capacity to plan for improved flood protection and drainage. Finally, we operated at the regional (basin) level to integrate our findings from the application of the flood risk assessment tool into national and international frameworks.

Floods are the most frequent of all natural disasters. In cities in the developing world, rapid urbanization and climate change are combining to dramatically increase exposure to flood risk among the poorest and most vulnerable. Kibera, Nairobi’s largest informal settlement, is subject to significant flood risk due to poor drainage and its location adjacent to the Ngong River, with over 50% of residents reporting their houses flooded in the 2015 March-April-May “long” rains. While flooding is one specific climate risk in Kibera it also ties to a much broader set of vulnerability issues (public health, security, livelihoods, urban fragility).

In 2015 and 2016 KDI worked with residents of Kibera, local and national authorities and other civil society organizations to build the resilience of communities in Kibera to adapt and respond to flooding. The overall objective of this project was to create a “toolkit” that can be used to implement flood risk reduction strategies in Kibera (and ultimately in other informal settlements) while incorporating local perspectives.

Firstly we worked at the community level, consulting with Kibera residents to gain information on vulnerability and assess local options for flood disaster response. Secondly, we worked at the municipal level, to jointly develop elements of the strategic flood risk assessment tool and improve the city’s capacity to plan for improved flood protection and drainage. And thirdly at the regional (basin) level, to integrate the findings from the application of the tool into national and international frameworks. The aim is to work with municipal agencies throughout to develop a flexible tool that can work within local, national and international frameworks.

The project has been an important next phase in KDI’s work on bringing together the issues of public space, water, sanitation, flooding and watershed remediation, from the perspectives of community, but also from the perspective of supporting appropriate governmental engagement. Key outcomes include: 963 Households Engaged in Discussions on Flooding; Ongoing support for 3 community groups for institutional strengthening; Flood extents info used in 3 planning Scenarios; Flood and drainage planning exercises with approx. 60 residents and stakeholders at Andolo; 40 m of new drainage and access delivered at Andolo; Improved access at Andolo for approx. 300 daily users (passing through); Briefing report formally issued to 35 people to date.