Sea’ties Regional Report – Adapting Coastal Cities and Territories to Sea Level Rise in West Africa: Challenges and Leading Practices

On October 5, 2022, the Sea’ties initiative, with the support of the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), convened around sixty stakeholders in Dakar, Senegal, for a regional workshop focused on Adapting Coastal Cities and Territories to Sea Level Rise in West Africa. This workshop, the fourth in a series of five (including Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the West Coast of the United States, West Africa, and the Pacific), brought together diverse stakeholders – including scientists, elected officials, representatives of development agencies and CSOS – to exchange their needs and practices in addressing the shared challenge of coastal adaptation.

Leveraging the insights gathered during the workshop and from individual interviews, the Sea’ties initiative, with the support of the CSE, is publishing the report titled Adapting Coastal Cities and Territories to Sea Level Rise in West Africa, Challenges and Leading Practices. This report offers an overview of current obstacles and sheds light on examples of  good practices contributing to the sustainable adaptation of coastal cities and their territories in the region.

Improving and sharing knowledge of the West African coastline to inform adaptation 

High levels of uncertainty, primarily resulting from insufficient local and regional data and analysis, hinder the capacities of West African cities to adapt. It is crucial, therefore, to enhance, standardize, and diversify data and analyses to achieve a comprehensive understanding of coastal dynamics. This objective is the primary focus of projects such as the OSS Saint Louis, which explores the potential of satellite imagery, and the ENGULF programme, which aims to integrate subsidence into the assessment of risks and vulnerabilities for cities along the Gulf of Guinea. While it is imperative to secure investments to bolster research capacities, the pooling of resources and adjustment of research protocols to field conditions can compensate for the scarcity of resources while improving the comprehension of risks and vulnerabilities. Cross-border observation networks such as ORLOA, the development of open data platforms, and the implementation of participatory research and observation programs are avenues that are increasingly being explored in the region to improve understanding levels while encouraging the appropriation of knowledge by decision-makers, investors and communities. 

Fostering an integrated, place-based approach to coastal governance

The strong interdependence between the coasts and hinterland of West Africa, from an ecological, demographic and socio-economic perspective, underscores the necessity for more coordinated coastal management. In light of this, and with a view to enhancing their capacities, many West African municipalities are joining up in networks such as the network of 29 municipalities for concerted coastal management in Côte d’Ivoire (ReCol-CI), the Senegalese Network of Parliamentarians for the Environment (REPES), and at the regional level the Alliance of Parliamentarians and Locally Elected Officials for the Protection of the Environment in West African Coastal Countries (APPEL). This concerted approach is particularly relevant as the impacts of adaptation projects extend beyond the administrative boundaries of a given municipality. In Senegal, the relocation of people from the Langue de Barbarie in Saint-Louis to the neighbouring town of Gandon has prompted local authorities to form the Association des Collectivités Territoriales de Saint-Louis (ACT-SL). 

Moreover, the active involvement of non-state groups and customary authorities is essential to address power dynamics that influence urban planning. In Senegal, the EIPC-GIZC programme is demonstrating the value of drawing on the experience of associations to foster citizen participation in the adaptation process. The municipality of Yoff in Dakar, Senegal, has leveraged traditional neighbourhood councils and has set up committees comprising young people and elders to mobilise inhabitants in the co-design and implementation of protection works.

Increasing the financing of sustainable adaptation strategies in coastal cities

West African coastal cities face challenges in accessing sufficient funds for adaptation, including international grants or loans, resources allocated by governments, or private investments. To ensure that local concerns are adequately addressed, the involvement of municipalities in the technical and financial conduct of adaptation strategies is essential. Central governments, relevant ministries, and international donors should support cities in developing local financial capabilities to overcome project-based financing models. Certain financing facilities, such as CICLIA, provide assistance to local authorities throughout the preparation and implementation phases of climate projects. Additionally, various economic stakeholders, including banks, local development agencies, and chambers of commerce and industry, have a crucial role in structuring city projects and promoting an integrated approach to financing adaptation. 

Click the image below to read the full report.