Liberia Urban Resilience Project

Adaptation Need

Greater Monrovia, the wettest capital in the world, already faces severe flooding, which is exacerbated by shifting precipitation patterns, rising temperatures, and more extreme weather. Since 2013, sea level rise and coastal erosion have displaced over 6,500 people. A projected 16 cm rise by 2030 threatens 675,000 people and 9,500 hectares of land. Climate risks are magnified by high population density and vulnerability, with 70% of residents living in informal settlements, 64% below the poverty line, and 80% relying on informal jobs. Building long-term resilience will require solutions that are developed and owned by local communities in partnership with national and local government, to ensure that adaptation efforts are contextual,  inclusive, and sustainable. 

GCA’s Added Value

GCA partnered with Slum Dwellers International (SDI), Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Liberia, and the Federation of Liberia Urban Poor Savers (FOLUPS) to integrate climate adaptation and community ownership in LURP investments. Through GCA’s support: (i) community involvement institutionalized throughout the project cycle by developing a dedicated Community Engagement Strategy designed to be integrated into the Project Operations Manual (POM) which guides the implementation of the project; (ii) climate risks and vulnerabilities assessed through community-driven enumeration and climate risk profiling, for 27,404 households in informal communities across New Kru Town, Garwolohn Township, and Paynesville; (iii) climate adaptation integrated in upstream investment design by providing detailed feedback on the Terms of Reference (ToR) being developed by the Ministry of Public Works, for the feasibility study of public infrastructure and community facilities; and (iv) enhanced local capacity for inclusive and climate resilient urban planning by co-organizing training workshops with YMCA Liberia and the Africa Mobility Taskforce (AMT), to foster community participation and dialogue.