Water Resource Management under Changing Climate in Angola's Coastal Settlements

During the civil war, 98% of the country’s 500 weather stations were rendered non-operational, leaving a data gap of nearly 30 years. To better understand past weather patterns as well as present-day and future projections of climate change risks, researchers reconstructed historical meteorological data that was lost during the war. They did so primarily by searching through archives and by interviewing village elders.

Specifically, researchers combined satellite imagery and participatory research methods to develop a set of "risk maps" for current and future conditions. Remote sensing tools were combined with on-the-ground household surveys and focus group discussions to validate the data. Five thousand interviews were conducted in the coastal cities of Cabinda (1,500), Luanda (2,500), and the twin cities of Benguela/Lobito (1,000). Municipal administrations and the Urban Poverty Network (a civil society organisation) are key stakeholders and participated in the fieldwork. The maps pinpoint locations in each of the 4 cities that are most vulnerable to flooding, erosion, sea level rise, storm surges, and salt water intrusion. They also indicate potable water sources with reference to variations in water prices. The risk maps are designed to be visually appealing and easily understood by community members as well as urban planners. Municipal officials are increasingly using them to guide urban planning, such as restricting new developments in high-risk areas and identifying when remedial actions (such as addressing flooding impacts) are necessary in existing settlements. The maps are also meant to be a basis for dialogue between communities, governments, and civil society organisations (CSOs). Visit the Development Workshop website for more information.

Collaboration not only with communities but with other government agencies has been a hallmark of this project. The researchers worked with the Climate Change Section of the National Environment Directorate to establish an early warning system in southwest Angola, which collects data from remotely operated flood gauges and shares this with the Civil Protection Agency to assist with flood planning and response. Furthermore, collaborating with the Ministry of Environment and the National Institute of Water Resources led to the creation of a national database to capture rainfall and climate data, including information gathered by the project. "Building on trust developed over a long history of cooperation, the government has since asked the researchers to help in developing the national climate change strategy and plan."

Community-based actions include the removal of rubbish and regular maintenance of drainage channels and the greening of the banks of intermittent water-courses to prevent flash flooding. Risk maps help city planners in preventing the expansion of coastal cities into environmentally risky areas, and also help identify where remedial actions are necessary in the existing settlements.

Climate Change

Thirty years of war in Angola drove large numbers of people from conflict-affected inland areas to the relative safety of coastal cities. Many of them eventually settled in informal communities on marginal, environmentally fragile, and low-cost land prone to flooding and landslides. In Luanda, for instance, 5 million people live in informal settlements.

Findings from the research confirm a high degree of rainfall variability across the country, increasing from north to south. This applies, in particular, to coastal areas, which are subject to isolated and extreme storm events. These storms have particularly severe consequences for coastal populations: 5-10% are at risk of losing their homes from flooding and erosion. Climate variability and its associated risks also damage urban infrastructure and can impede provision of government services. Currently, almost 50% of households do not have piped water, and many are paying fees of up to US$0.50 per bucket of potable water. Inadequate sanitation and scarce, poor quality water are contributing to frequent cases of malaria, cholera, and diarrhoea.

In three municipalities of Luanda, participatory methods and a community water management model developed by the project led to changes in how public water points are managed. The result: more access to clean water and a 90% reduction in cost (from US$0.50 to $0.05 per bucket). The government has since incorporated this model into a "Water for All" policy and replicated it across the country in an attempt to ensure that locally elected committees finance maintenance of water points and that they take an active role in promoting hygiene and basic sanitation.

Researchers note that participatory municipal planning approaches need to be researched and tested for the community to contribute to the adaptation process and explore other alternatives for dealing with climate change variability.