Nature-Based Adaptation in a Nairobi Informal Settlement: Addressing Chronic Flooding While Increasing Community Resilience Through Multi-Benefit Green Infrastructure

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Over 50% of the population of Nairobi, Kenya lives in informal settlements. These settlements are often located in the lower elevations of the city and susceptible to annual flooding. Residents experience chronic property destruction and deaths during the two rainy seasons of the year. Climate change is projected to significantly worsen these impacts. The informal settlement of Kibera hugs the Ngong River and its associated streams, terminating at the Nairobi Dam. This research investigated the capacity for nature-based solutions in critical points along the Ngong River and associated streams to address the chronic and worsening flooding conditions. A partnership was formed between local residents, a local design organization (Kounkuey Design Initiative), and an upper-level architecture studio at the University of Arizona. This project developed designs for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) at five locations of chronic flooding in Kibera to reduce impacts. During the design process, multiple co-benefits, unique to each site and community organization were developed. In addition to flood reduction, projects expanded urban agriculture, provided erosion control, increased social spaces, harvested material for local waste recycling enterprises, and expanded access to safe drinking water and water education. The five projects worked as a network along the Ngong River to reduce annual flooding by 1,202,000 gallons. As climate impacts increase and the growth of informal settlements continues, these five designs serve as replicable prototypes for future nature-based solutions along the Ngong River to incrementally ameliorate conditions while offering expanded community assets to the residents of Kibera.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSustainable Development Goals Series
PublisherSpringer
Pages475-490
Number of pages16
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Publication series

NameSustainable Development Goals Series
VolumePart F2789
ISSN (Print)2523-3084
ISSN (Electronic)2523-3092

Keywords

  • Green infrastructure
  • Informal settlements
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Urban flooding
  • Water infrastructure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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