Togo: The country is committed to innovation for flood management in Grand Lomé

The Grand Lomé in Togo is grappling with recurring challenges related to flooding, prompting the country to adopt an approach of innovation to managing this natural disaster. In this context, the National Civil Protection Agency (ANPC), with the support of the World Bank, launched a study on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, aimed at developing an anticipatory and reactive strategy for dealing with floods.

The consulting firm responsible for this study is tasked with designing a strategy to minimize the impacts of flooding in the Grand Lomé by establishing an effective mechanism adapted to current realities, especially the rapid urbanization of the capital.

The study’s objective is also to enable flood prediction, providing stakeholders involved in combating natural phenomena with the opportunity to take risk reduction measures.

This innovation initiative complements the efforts announced earlier this year by the Ministry of Urban Planning, focused on flood risk reduction in the Grand Lomé, primarily through the implementation of stormwater drainage structures.

In parallel, as part of the fight against floods, the municipalities of Golfe 1 and Golfe 7 in the Grand Lomé signed a parametric insurance agreement with AXA Climate, a subsidiary of the London-based broker Howden, in December 2023 during COP28. Through this agreement, the InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF) will contribute to financing the implementation of flood insurance solutions.

These initiatives demonstrate Togo’s commitment to adopting diverse and innovative approaches to address flooding challenges, involving international partners and integrating prediction and insurance strategies to enhance the resilience of the Grand Lomé region.

Justine Akolatsey