资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

In 2018, the WMO Bulletin article Community-based Approaches to Flood Management in Thailand and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) reported on two projects aimed at improving self-help capabilities, which had been implemented between 2013 and 2016. Following post-project assessments that showed that the community approach had long-term sustainability,W MO and its partners started replicating the Community-Based Flood Management concept in Africa’s Volta Basin countries and in the Caribbean State of Antigua and Barbuda.

Implementation of the Community-Based Flood Management (CBFM) concept is guided by the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM), which is jointly sponsored by WMO and Global Water Partnership (GWP).  APFM activities target Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 priority actions 1, 3 and 4. They also support the UN Secretary General’s mandate to cover the world’s population with Early Warning Systems and improve preparedness to cope with natural hazards and related disasters.

Integrated approach to Flood and Drought Management in the Volta Basin

The Volta River runs through Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo. The Basin covers about 400 000 km² and has a population of approximately 29 million. The region is highly vulnerable to hydrometeorological events and socioeconomic challenges are being exacerbated by climate change, which is reducing precipitation and increasing temperatures.

APFM aims to assist the six countries in implementing coordinated, joint measures to improve existing flood and drought management plans at the regional, national and local levels through a four-year (2019–2023) US$ 7.9 million Adaptation Fund project. The project aims to enhance flood and drought forecasting, and to increase people’s self-help capacity to cope with hydrometeorological events by developing early warning communication channels and improving end-user responses. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) will thus be able to monitor hazardous events as they develop and disseminate timely warnings to those at risk. Citizens will also be prepared for the impending situations and know how to respond rapidly to protect lives and property.

The project takes into consideration best practices and lessons learned from the Thailand and Lao PDR projects. Recent achievements include:

• the development of the flood and drought risk maps
• design and development of the VOLTALARM multi-hazard EWS
• over 200 locals trained through distance-learning courses on Basic and Advanced Hydrology, Geospatial information, and drought monitoring
• in-person trainings of 200 regional, national and local stakeholders on gender mainstreaming and nature-based solutions for flood and drought management
• completion of mapping of multidimensional factors of vulnerability, exposure and capacity in six communities.

Further activities include participatory risk assessments, mapping of the vulnerable houses, the establishment of community-based committees, building knowledge and awareness on flood and drought management, gender mainstreaming, first-aid training and the development of EWS dissemination channels.

Before the project’s expected conclusion in June 2023, it will further enhance the local modelling and forecasting system for flood and drought hazards, which will be embedded into the VOLTALARM EWS. The EWS will be pilot tested in 10 flood and drought prone areas of the Volta Basin during the monsoon and dry seasons in order to identify the applicability and effectiveness of EWS actions at the community level. Based on the results, the project will support the countries in strengthening policy, action plans and institutional capacity for integrated flood and drought management at the local, national and transboundary levels.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Volta Basin Authority and Global Water Partnership West Africa.

Community-Based Flood Management activities in Antigua

In May 2022, a workshop initiated CBFM activities in Antigua. The “Integrated Approach to Flood Management” is being implemented by the CREWS initiative’s Caribbean project as a part of the Caribbean Regional Roadmap 2021–2025.  

The small-island has a tropical climate ­with a rainy season, which occasionally brings heavy precipitation and severe weather, and also experiences drought. When heavy precipitation occurs, water flows into canals that are too small and often blocked by the household garbage, plants or mud flow, which cause the water to overflow and inundate houses on the banks of the canals. Recurrent flooding has caused damage to property, to agricultural land and crops and to roads. The most devastating floods in recent memory occurred in 1999 and 2020.

The flooding is connected to land management, planning and construction and will most probably be aggravated by climate change. Despite flooding incidents, people continue to live and settle in flood-prone areas because they do not know or do not have any other choice. The locals resist evacuation as they do not want to leave their belongings behind, thus they put themselves and volunteers at risk.

Based on these observations, the following activities will be implemented before the end of the year to enhance flood self-help capabilities:

• a knowledge and awareness workshop on community-level flood and drought management
• a First-Aid Training and provision of First-Aid Kits for the National Disaster Risk management volunteers and community members 
• update mappings of vulnerable homes
• installation of flood warnings using coloured poles and wall markings on residential houses
• a workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in End-to-End EWS for Flood Forecasting and Integrated Flood Risk Management
• media training on interpreting forecasts and improving messages disseminated to the general public
• Installation of amplifiers and loudspeakers in two communities for early warning measures 

This project is being implemented in collaboration with the National Office of Disaster Services of Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services, and the Knowledge and Innovation group.

Outlook

To foster long-term sustainability after the projects are completed, the communities should receive regular training and practice sessions as well as up-to-date tools. Additional investments will be required to integrate disaster risk reduction into development practices, plans and policies at local, provincial and national levels. Flood prevention measures will also need continuous work to further reduce the impacts from floods. Flood parameters need to be included when planning the construction of dams or reservoirs, during land-use planning and to define flood zoning to avoid the construction of houses near rivers. Schools should also provide children with training on flood proofing and build flood awareness.

These projects should serve as good example and best practices for other communities to attain flood resilience. WMO and its partners will to continue to implement such activities, tailoring them to the circumstances of each community.