Driving urban resilience forward
Cities across West Africa unite for peer learning and financing solutions
From 18 to 20 March 2025, twelve cities from the ECOWAS region gathered in Lomé, Togo, for a groundbreaking workshop series titled “Risk-Informed Urban Development in West Africa and the ECOWAS Region.” The event, organized by the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA) and Connective Cities, in collaboration with the Good Governance Programme of GIZ Togo, took place with the support of the African Union Commission (AUC), the ECOWAS Commission, the German Association of Cities, and SKEW – the Service Agency Communities in One World. This workshop marked a significant step in strengthening urban resilience across the region by connecting local governments, technical experts, financing institutions, and, most importantly, fostering peer-to-peer learning across borders.
The urgency of addressing urban resilience in the face of climate change is evident. Climate-related disasters in West Africa are projected to cost up to three percent of the regional GDP annually by 2030. Combined with rapid urban growth, mounting pressure on infrastructure, and increasing social vulnerability, cities in the region are on the front lines of the climate crisis. In response, the workshop focused on a fundamental principle: cities learn best from other cities.
Building Knowledge Together: Peer Learning as a Catalyst
The workshop was designed around thematic peer learning groups, where participants tackled specific urban resilience challenges in collaborative settings. This approach allowed municipalities facing similar issues to exchange strategies, identify transferable solutions, and build solidarity across borders.
One group brought together coastal cities such as Rufisque (Senegal), Ouidah (Benin), and Lacs 1 / Aného (Togo), which are grappling with erosion, sea-level rise, and frequent flooding. Their discussions emphasized the importance of combining infrastructure measures with nature-based solutions, community awareness, and regional programs like WACA. Despite differing local contexts, the cities found common ground in how they engage citizens and integrate traditional knowledge into climate adaptation strategies.
Another group focused on urban flooding and infrastructure gaps, with participants from Golfe 1 (Togo), Mopti (Mali), and Kongoussi (Burkina Faso). These fast-growing cities explored how data-driven planning, inter-departmental coordination, and decentralized infrastructure could help mitigate flood risks. The group was particularly inspired by insights shared by the City of Berlin, which discussed managing stormwater through long-term planning and innovative urban design.
