Work programmes

  • Work programmes

Urban ARK is structured around four linked work programmes (WP). Each programme is designed to broaden our current conceptual and empirical understandings of risk and its reduction from multiple perspectives, while filling key knowledge, evidence and data gaps surrounding this subject. Each programme also integrates an understanding of how institutions, infrastructure and the environment play an active role in shaping risk and influencing pathways for resilience

Four different approaches to urban risk and vulnerability assessment will be deployed under WP 1 based on:

  1. Epidemiology (Nairobi, Mombasa, Dakar)
  2. Participatory approaches (Karonga)
  3. Historical event mapping (Ibadan)
  4. Household vulnerability (Niamey)

WP 2 focusses on the physical processes of natural hazards and their interaction with human systems. This is done in two parts: (i) multi-hazard interactions impact on infrastructure networks and (ii) climate downscaling for urban planning and incorporation into decision making. This research requires original ways to collect and interrogate data on hazards and impact in an African development context; and novel approaches to modelling hazard impact upon the built environment. Work will target Karonga, Nairobi and to a lesser extent Ibadan. 

WP3 responds to the absence of work that associates historical root causes with contemporary expressions of disaster risk and loss. A broad view of urban governance is taken and brings a historical lens to urbanisation and risk coevolution.

WP4 on governance and planning brings this learning together with an action research agenda to work with key actors to better understand and help inform contemporary decision-making and planning for the future. Four connected sub-WPs focus on a range of governance spaces and actor types that together mark out the emerging structural forces shaping urban futures in Africa.