Liberia inception mission
In the second half of July, DASUDA lead partner CDR International kicked-off the Liberia Urban Resilience Project with an intensive Inception Mission. We support the Ministry of Public Works of Liberia in implementing this The World Bank-funded project, aiming to improve urban resilience in four flood-prone areas of Greater Monrovia —Northern Bushrod Island, Omega Market Area, Central Monrovia, and Southeastern Paynesville. The project addresses site-specific hydraulic challenges and systemic gaps in water management and urban planning.
The project consists of the following tasks:
- Carry out detailed flood risk assessments of the areas
- Developing urban resilience plans, focusing on participative approach, and selecting flood resilience and community infrastructure services;
- Developing preliminary and detailed designs for mitigation measures
- Preparing Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs)
- Providing procurement support to the Client.
CDR International and joint-venture partner Earthtime lead this multidisciplinary initiative, supported by DASUDA partner VE-R landscape and urbanism, Deltares, Geo2, and various other specialists.
During the mission and multiple site visits before and after the formal Inception Programme, we were reminded of the value of having boots on the ground, especially in such complex and dynamic urban settings. With Monrovia receiving some of the highest annual rainfall globally, its low-lying deltaic terrain, combined with rapid urbanization and informal development, poses severe challenges for drainage and resilience infrastructure.
This project is a typical DASUDA project which aims to tackle these challenges by combining technical flood risk management with community-centered urban upgrading. Its dual approach includes (1) improving critical drainage infrastructure through blue-green-grey solutions—such as stormwater retention zones, vegetated wetlands, and engineered drainage—and (2) upgrading public facilities in vulnerable areas, including markets, sanitation systems, public lighting, water kiosks, and recreational spaces.
Our visits led to various new insights into the local hydrological systems and deepened our understanding of the socio-economic and urban fabric of the study areas. With the local knowledge of Earthtime and John C. II. Mayson, and regular visits from international experts, we continue to work towards a safer, more flood-resilient Monrovia, where community-supported infrastructure and integrated planning reduce vulnerability and protect livelihoods.
#UrbanResilience #FloodMitigation #Monrovia #WorldBank #Liberia #CDRInternational #DASUDA #SustainableCities #ClimateAdaptation
