Context:
Sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, with the worsening frequency and severity of extreme weather events like flooding and drought. These events disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, particularly in the agricultural sector, which is both a major economic driver and the foundation of livelihoods for rural populations. Traditional water control methods are insufficient, resulting in disrupted livelihoods and economic losses.
The successful implementation of the SLAMDAM project in Burundi has demonstrated its potential as a scalable and effective solution to these challenges. However, there is a significant knowledge gap in how to implement and maintain this innovative system across different Sub-Saharan communities. This project aims to address this gap by facilitating a knowledge exchange program that empowers representatives from seven Sub-Saharan countries to implement SLAMDAM in their own unique contexts, thereby enhancing regional climate resilience.
Participant countries: CAR, Chad, Guinea, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania.
Workshop: Burundi, Bujumbura
Field trip: Mpanda Commune in the Bubanza Province
Objective
To empower Sub-Saharan African countries with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to enhance climate resilience against flooding, drought, and erosion control through the implementation of the SLAMDAM system.
Summary of Exchange:
This exchange involved a multi-stage approach that included an on-site knowledge exchange and training program.
On-Site Knowledge Exchange and Training Program: A midweek-long, on-site program in Burundi was the core of this initiative. It included hands-on training sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and field visits to areas where SLAMDAM has been successfully implemented. This program included the achievement of actionable policies and projects for the respective countries who took part in the study trip following newly obtained insights and lessons related to flood and drought risk management and erosion control.
Expected Outcomes
- Knowledge Transfer: To facilitate the sharing of best practices, experiences, and technical know-how related to flood and drought control measures, including Early Warning System (EWS), hydrodynamic modelling and the SLAMDAM technology, among the participating countries. Knowledge transfer requires a substantial representation of women.
- Capacity Building: To provide comprehensive, hands-on training sessions on the installation, operation, and maintenance of Burundi’s newly implemented flood and drought control measures to the government officials. Capacity-building activities shall include a substantial representation of women.
- Policy/project Integration: To assist participating government officials in understanding how the flood and drought control measures including an EWS, hydrodynamic modelling software and the SLAMDAM system can be incorporated into their existing climate resilience and disaster risk management policies and projects. Actionable projects and policies shall ensure that women are involved in the design process and that their interests are at the forefront when implementing projects and policies.
- Customization and Localization: To engage participants and the local stakeholders and the project developer in discussions on tailoring the flood and drought adaptation measures to the specific environmental, social, and economic conditions of each country. Participants shall ensure substantial representation of women to ensure their interests are at the forefront when customizing / localizing flood and drought measures.
- Networking and Collaboration: To foster long-term relationships between participating countries and stakeholders, encouraging ongoing collaboration and support in implementing climate resilience measures.
Goals of the workshop event
- Exchange knowledge amongst countries in the Global South on climate change-induced flooding and drought.
- Learn how Burundi has implemented the project to manage flooding and drought using a mobile flood barrier.
- The aim is to define the next steps to develop concrete strategies / policies / projects to enhance flood and drought resilience.
Event Synopsis: South-South Exchange Visit on SLAMDAM Technology
Held in Bujumbura, Burundi on November 14, 2023, this four-day South-South exchange brought together representatives from multiple African countries, Canada, and the Netherlands to explore SLAMDAM technology—an innovative, mobile anti-flood and irrigation solution. The visit focused on lessons learned from a successful pilot project in Mpanda, Bubanza Province, supported by Climate Action Africa with technical input from Zephyr Consulting and CTCN. The event provided a platform for peer learning, regional collaboration, and discussions on scaling climate adaptation solutions in vulnerable regions.
Learnings from the knowledge exchange:
Climate Action Africa – South-South Exchange on Climate Resilience in Burundi
As part of Climate Action Africa, a South-South exchange visit was held in Bujumbura, Burundi, bringing together experts and delegates from across Africa to share strategies and technologies for climate resilience. The visit focused on Burundi’s pilot project using SLAMDAM technology—a mobile water barrier system designed to mitigate flooding and support irrigation during drought conditions.
Burundi, a landlocked country in Central Africa with a population of approximately 12 million, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In recent decades, the country has experienced severe environmental shocks, including devastating droughts and floods. Between 2006 and 2007, nearly 25% of the population was affected by flooding, while prolonged droughts in the northern provinces—especially Kirundo and Muyinga—led to famine and displacement, with reports of daily hunger-related deaths and climate refugees fleeing to Rwanda and Tanzania.
Through this exchange, participants had the opportunity to:
- Learn from Burundi’s climate adaptation experiences,
- Understand the impact of the SLAMDAM pilot in Mpanda, Bubanza Province,
- And explore the creation of a regional knowledge-sharing platform to scale up successful climate solutions across the continent.
Information management essential to adapt to climate change:
- Access to reliable (weather) data is essential to designing the best possible interventions to mitigate the risk of flooding. Reliable data shall be used in information systems to analyze flood risks and assess appropriate response to the threat of floods.
- Many countries in the Global South have limited access to weather data and information systems. This is an important barrier to overcome if we want to adapt to climate change-induced flooding.
- The “SLAMDAM Intelligence Suite” is a collection of cutting-edge information systems aimed to enhance resilience to flooding using SLAMDAM or other flood resilience measures.
- The tools help analyze anticipated flood risks and assess appropriate response measures.
- Participants had the opportunity to learn about the tools that were developed, demonstrating specific flood scenarios and the different information systems available.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea International, Econoler, and WSP, the exchange supported peer learning and regional collaboration on urgent climate adaptation needs.
