Integrating GIS into Flood Risk Management: A Global South Perspective on Resilience, Planning, and Policy

Flooding is one of the most frequent and destructive natural disasters worldwide, with intensifying socioeconomic and environmental consequences linked to rapid urbanisation and climate change. This review examines flood risk delineation and assessment in Nigeria within a broader Global South perspective, synthesising evidence from peer-reviewed studies that employ remote sensing, GIS-based techniques, and multi-criteria decision analysis. The analysis reveals persistent challenges that undermine effective flood risk management, including incompatible datasets, limited stakeholder participation, and inadequate integration with formal planning systems. To address these gaps, the study introduces the GIS-Integrated Flood Risk Management (GIFRM) Framework, a conceptual model that integrates high-resolution risk mapping, adaptive infrastructure design, sustainable urban planning, and participatory governance. GIFRM advances resilience discourse beyond hazard mapping, offering a practical bridge between science, policy, and implementation by aligning technical geospatial analysis with actionable planning solutions. Comparative case insights from flood-prone countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Kenya highlight transferable strategies, including community-led data integration, modular infrastructure approaches, and localised zoning reforms. The review concludes by critically examining the operational disconnect between advanced geospatial risk assessment and its application in resource-limited, rapidly urbanising settings. It reframes flood risk assessment as an interdisciplinary planning tool with global relevance, delivering lessons for disaster preparedness, urban sustainability, and climate resilience. In the face of escalating hydrometeorological extremes, this research offers applied strategies for embedding GIS technologies into adaptive policy frameworks, positioning flood risk management as a core driver of sustainable development.