A holistic framework to improve urban flood management in cities with informal settlements

Abstract Urban flooding is being exacerbated by climate change and rapid urbanisation. Informal settlements often disproportionately experience the negative impacts of flooding due to their location, perceived transience, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. This study sought to develop a novel and holistic framework which policy makers, engineers and other stakeholders can use to design and implement more inclusive urban flood management (UFM) in informal settlements. A systematic review was conducted and five key themes relevant to UFM in informal settlements were identified: governance, community capacity, resilience, perception of floods, and future thinking. These themes were then transformed into a framework that captures their interconnectedness. A discussion then highlights the challenges that may occur when applying this framework to informal settlements, emphasizing the need for pragmatism.