Improving Public Action to Mitigate River Flooding in Niamey (Niger)

Saidou Oumarou Mahamane, Amadou Oumarou and María José Piñeira Mantiñán ()
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Saidou Oumarou Mahamane: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niamey 10960, Niger
Amadou Oumarou: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niamey 10960, Niger
María José Piñeira Mantiñán: Department of Geography, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of repeated floods in the city of Niamey and the strategies developed by the state in terms of prevention, rehabilitation, and care for victims. Although numerous framework documents have been drafted in the last decade and urbanization in flood zones has been limited, the reality in Niamey shows that urban sprawl is increasing along the riverbank and the population facing vulnerable situations is growing. The inefficiency of state action determines that, on the one hand, it is non-governmental institutions that need to develop improvement plans—with the recovery of the city being dependent on the arrival of their funds and their distribution in those areas that donor countries consider most suitable—and on the other hand, it is the citizens—already vulnerable—who must find their own resilience mechanisms to try to survive the next flood. This study reveals that this diversity of players is involved in flood management through emergency relief, solidarity in rehousing, and providing support for living and non-living flood victims. Despite this mobilization, the actions undertaken are hampered by a number of constraints. Insufficient financial and human resources, a lack of foresight on the part of the authorities, and poorly coordinated actions are the main difficulties limiting the success of public action in the face of flooding. Through a qualitative approach, combining documentary research, direct observation and semi-structured interviews, we analyze the mobilization of actors around the management of the effects of floods in Niamey.

Keywords: river flooding; informal urban sprawl; public action; mobilization; Niamey; Niger (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:8:p:1523-:d:1207491

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