Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in Water Governance in African Cities - Durban, Maputo, Nairobi

Achieving water security in Africa remains a major challenge for policymakers. Moreover, there is evidence linking climate variability to deteriorating water security in the region, particularly its cities. This project aims to increase the capacity of civil society to influence water sector governance in the context of climate change adaptation. Researchers will identify stakeholders' vulnerability to and perception of climate change. They will characterize existing institutional frameworks for water governance in the three cities, and how they cope with the anticipated impacts of climate change. And, they will examine how civil society institutions adjust their programs to cope with climate change. Country teams will test a range of practical strategies for engaging vulnerable urban dwellers in water governance with a view to enhancing their resilience in the face of climate change. The lessons learned will be scaled up to other cities within the three countries and the rest of Africa.