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Designing Inclusive African Coastal City Resilience

We are conducting inclusive and co-created research into what climate-resilient measures can and should be implemented in coastal African cities.

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Designing Inclusive African Coastal City Resilience

Years active:

2023 - 2026

Related ICLEI Pathway(s)

Locations

Beira, Mozambique | eThekwini, South Africa

Funded by

CLARE
Funder
About

Project summary

The INACCT Resilience project considers the realities of thousands of African people whose lives have been devastated by the impacts of extreme events such as intense flooding (likely to be made worse by climate change), and aims to provide forward-looking and inclusive solutions, as well as the proactive measures to achieve these solutions.

 

Funded by CLARE

CLARE is a £110m, UK-Canada framework research programme on Climate Adaptation and Resilience, aiming to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards. CLARE is an initiative jointly designed, funded and run by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Canada’s International Development Research Centre. CLARE is primarily funded by UK aid from the UK government, along with the International Development Research Centre, Canada.

Project aims

  • Promote co-learning and the co-creation of climate-resilient solutions between eThekwini, South Africa and Beira, Mozambique.
  • Encourage inclusivity by giving voice to marginalized people and communities who have been affected by climate change in these contexts.
  • Create Africa-specific climate-resilience solutions that can potentially help other cities on the continent become more resilient.

Project partners

Project resources

What to do before, during and after a flood

Climate-related disasters are increasing. Here’s a short animation on what informal African settlement communities can do before, during and after floods to protect their families and homes.

INACCT Innovative, inclusive and gender-responsive engagement methodologies

This document distills lessons from the INACCT Resilience Project in Durban and Beira to provide practical insights on facilitating innovative, inclusive, and gender-responsive engagement for climate resilience. Drawing on participatory processes such as focus groups, Learning Labs, and community exchanges, it highlights the importance of co-production in climate governance and outlines key principles, tools, and case studies that demonstrate how diverse voices can shape effective responses, particularly in addressing flooding in informal settlements. The insights are intended to support practitioners across government, community, and research sectors, emphasising that inclusive and gender-responsive approaches strengthen adaptation outcomes by integrating varied knowledge systems and fostering collaboration.

Community Based Flood Early Warning Systems (CBFEWS)

These two documents unpack the important flood-related work that INACCT Resilience has been involved in, specifically with the communities, academic institutes and municipalities in eThekwini, Durban (South Africa).

team manager

Main project contact

32198

Dr Hayley Leck

Senior Specialist: Climate Change, Resilience & Research
The project team

Designing Inclusive African Coastal City Resilience team

Dr Kate Strachan

Dr Kate Strachan

Senior Manager: Climate Change Resilience, Coastal Management & DRR
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Kate holds a PhD in Environmental Science, focused on coastal changes associated with climate change. She has a special interest in understanding climate change and the associated risks, especially relating to coastal cities. She has worked with and for local governments to build climate resilience, developing climate adaptation plans, and identifying challenges and opportunities associated with natural assets to overcome shocks and stressors associated with climate change.
Nicolas Gate

Nicolas Gate

Professional Officer: Climate Resilience & Disaster Risk Reduction
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Nick holds a Master’s degree in public policy and international relations, and his areas of expertise include public policy, climate finance and the blue economy. He is interested in channeling climate adaptation efforts in urban areas, emphasising the special needs and circumstances on the African continent. Nick has two years of experience, having worked at a think tank and at an international development cooperation entity. He speaks English, French and Portuguese.

Brian Palmer

Brian Palmer

Senior Specialist: Climate Change, Energy & Resilience
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Brian’s diverse climate adaptation experience is centred on building coalitions for resilience in communities facing compounded vulnerability. He holds an MPhil in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, with a focus on coastal governance. His appreciation for monitoring, evaluation, and learning stems from a passion for asking questions, listening, and synthesising information. Brian’s project development work has been rooted in testing innovations and finding replicable success.

Carina Mason

Carina Mason

Communications Officer
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Carina has 12 years’ experience in the writing and editing industry, with over 5 years in the non-profit space. She is passionate about contributing her skillset to the sustainable growth of the African cities that ICLEI’s projects support. Carina holds a Master’s degree in Media Studies with distinction from Wits University. She has always been interested in the intersection of media and communication with environmental issues, and the impact that the right message can have in making lasting, positive change. 

Clara Marais

Clara Marais

Professional Officer: Climate Change Resilience & Disaster Risk Reduction
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Clara holds an Honours degree in Environmental and Geographical Science, graduating with distinction from the University of Cape Town. With a keen focus on climate change adaptation, disaster risk management and resilience, Clara is driven by a commitment to advancing sustainable and equitable solutions in the African urban context. She believes that impactful resilience-building emerges from collective action and interdisciplinary engagement.

Designing Inclusive African Coastal City Resilience
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