Africa’s cities are growing at an unprecedented pace. In just three decades, the number of urban centers has more than doubled -- from 3,300 to 7,600 -- while city populations have surged by half a billion people. But rapid urbanization brings rising risks. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, floods now account for nearly two-thirds of all disaster events and almost a quarter of disaster-related deaths.
Much of this vulnerability stems from where and how cities expand: often in hazardous areas, through informal or unplanned settlements, and without the infrastructure needed to withstand climate shocks. Without urgent action, urban flooding threatens to undermine development gains and put millions of lives and livelihoods at risk.
To help cities chart a more resilient course, the City Resilience Program (CRP) and the World Bank, in partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the City Climate Finance Gap Fund, are convening the Livable Cities Workshop in Cotonou, Benin, from September 15–19, 2025.
The workshop is open to municipal officials from selected African cities, providing an opportunity to tackle the urban flood management challenges they face in their cities. Through a dynamic mix of technical sessions, case studies, site visits, peer learning, and collaborative exercises, they will explore how to identify risks, prioritize investments, and design solutions that make their cities safer and more resilient.
Follow the City Resilience Program for more information.