By Yohannes Kesete, Mohammad Dehghani 

As climate change intensifies, small island developing states (SIDS) face unprecedented challenges in maintaining their infrastructure. The combined impact of aging infrastructure and climate-related hazards—such as floods, landslides, and hurricanes—threatens not only the integrity of road networks but also the daily lives and livelihoods of communities.

Traditional asset management strategies often address infrastructure wear and tear but fall short of accounting for climate risks. Conversely, systems designed for hazard assessment and vulnerability analysis frequently operate in isolation from asset management frameworks. This siloed approach makes it difficult to develop integrated plans that consider both infrastructure degradation and climate risk. 

In many SIDS, the problem is compounded by limited data and technical capacity. Against this backdrop, the Government of Dominica, working with the World Bank and with financial support from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), pursued a practical, cost-effective framework that bring these pieces together in a more accessible way. Rather than introducing entirely new systems, the framework adapts existing practices to realities on the ground through simple incremental steps. The objective was to support agencies in SIDS to prioritize investments that improve resilience, and protect their communities without requiring extensive resources or technical expertise.

The approach focuses on integrating asset data, hazard data, and contextual information into a usable structure. It connects various risk concepts to create an operational approach that facilitates informed decision-making without overwhelming agencies with complexity.

Leverage Existing Data: Many agencies can tap into globally available datasets, which allow the generation of indicative and foundational information, and enable agencies to assess risks without significant expenditure.

Collect Additional Data: Low-cost data collection methods, such as visual assessments and free mobile applications, can fill critical information gaps. These tools enable agencies to gather vital road data efficiently and affordably.

Assess Asset Risk: This approach combines straightforward qualitative and semi-quantitative techniques to help agencies evaluate road risks against potential hazards. This enables more effective prioritization of maintenance and improvement efforts.

A Case Study in Dominica

Dominica, a Caribbean nation known for its vulnerability to natural hazards, served as a pilot for applying this approach in a real-world context.  Using visual rating criteria developed for determining condition of bridges, drainage and geotechnical assets, and International Roughness Index (IRI) measurements taken using mobile apps for assessing pavement conditions, the team gathered both qualitative and quantitative data across the road network.  A structured process was used to calculate both the likelihood of failure and the consequences of failure that will allow decision makers with prioritization of both routine maintenance and major capital investments along the entire road network in Dominica.  

Amid the realities of climate change, the implications of this framework extend beyond just road management. While the components – risk assessment, data integration, and prioritization – are not new, their combined application in a streamlined, resource-conscious way is what makes this approach relevant for SIDS.

The experience in Dominica shows how governments can begin to integrate climate risks into infrastructure planning without the need for extensive new systems. The framework allows agencies to start where they are—using available data, building capacity over time, and applying fit-for-purpose methods. This kind of incremental, adaptable approach is critical in contexts where both resources and risks are evolving rapidly.

A paper published on February 3, 2025 in the Journal of Infrastructure systems detailing the framework and the case study in Dominica can be found here.