By Maurice Asamwa

In enhancing dignified living across the informal settlements, KISIP 2 has ensured its interventions are climate smart, resilient and adaptive in nature.

Climate resilience interventions adopted across all the components include nature-based solutions, low carbon development pathways, ecosystem-based approaches. During infrastructure upgrading works, detailed engineering designs prepared always integrate green solutions.

The designs adopt mixed land use with access roads side storm water drains with walk ways inclusive. This reduces demand for land for built infrastructure reducing the carbon footprint. Main access roads with wider wayleaves are designed with indigenous trees which reduces urban island heat effects and energy demand for cooling and heating.

During planning and surveying, KISIP advocates for green infrastructure initiatives (greener open spaces) during preparation of local physical and land use development plan which provides ecosystem services within the cities making cities and informal settlements resilient and adaptive to climate change related disasters. Green infrastructure options also provide mitigation adaptation options to climate change. Nature based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches should be adopted as they are pillars to sustainability. They enhance ecological sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability.

Sustainability principles provide a framework which informs preparation of Settlement level Community Development Plans (CDPs). With sustainability at the core for CDPs preparation and implementation, only practicable solutions which are evidence based are adopted.

Media role in climate mainstreaming has further got traction with the team using media pages i.e. Facebook page, X-space and printed media such as articles to create awareness for adoption of climate resilient and low carbon development pathways by the project stakeholders.

Media plays a greater role in adaptiveness and resilient. During disasters media can provide early warning signs, provide a space for communication and collaboration during the calamity an/or provide a robust framework for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Let’s stand up for our informal settlements, our cities and our environment. We don’t have another planet waiting for us. Justice for all, social inclusion, ecological restoration, sustainable business opportunities among other sustainability options should be our guiding principle during execution and road map to attainment project development objective.

Maurice is a Senior Housing Officer at the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and Climate Responsive and Action Lead for KISIP2