Community Governance Performance of Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Urban Stormwater Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Simon Peter Muwafu (), Louis Celliers, Jürgen Scheffran and María Máñez Costa
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Simon Peter Muwafu: Climate Service Centre Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Fischertwiete 1, 20095 Hamburg, Germany
Louis Celliers: Climate Service Centre Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Fischertwiete 1, 20095 Hamburg, Germany
Jürgen Scheffran: Institute of Geography, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
María Máñez Costa: Climate Service Centre Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Fischertwiete 1, 20095 Hamburg, Germany

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: The expansion of cities in Sub-Saharan Africa has led to an increase in impervious surfaces, intensifying stormwater management challenges, especially in informal settlements situated in ecologically sensitive areas like wetlands. This urban growth has heightened flood risks and negatively impacted biodiversity, water quality, and socio-economic conditions, particularly during extreme weather events intensified by climate change. Nature-Based Solutions (NbSs), including Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDSs), offer sustainable strategies for managing stormwater and mitigating these adverse effects. However, the success of such solutions relies not only on their technical implementation but also on the social and institutional contexts within urban communities. Community-level governance is crucial in integrating NbSs into urban stormwater management frameworks. This research evaluates how community governance of NbSs, specifically SUDSs, can enhance stormwater management and flood resilience in Kampala, Uganda. Using an assessment framework grounded in the Policy Arrangement Approach (PAA)—which considers discourses, actors, resources, and rules of engagement—this study incorporates structural, social, and political factors that influence SUDS community governance performance. Concentrating on the Sembule zones within the Nalukolongo catchment area, this research investigates the impact of community governance dynamics on SUDS implementation. This study examines key aspects such as community engagement, resource management, and regulatory frameworks to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives, providing valuable insights for advancing nature-based urban stormwater management.

Keywords: community governance; Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDSs); Nature-Based Solutions (NbSs); urban stormwater management; flood risks; climate change; Sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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