Floods pose a serious challenge for cities around the world, affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of urban dwellers. The hazards and observed effects vary: regular seasonal river swelling, intense rainfall flash flooding, groundwater flooding, coastal storms, coastal erosion, and subsidence. However, one trend is clear: urban flooding can become increasingly costly, as low- and middle-income countries urbanize.
World Bank Disaster Risk Management Hub, Tokyo is capturing high-value Japanese expertise in flood risk management on specific topics of high-demand for the members and client countries, such as Japan’s strong institutional arrangements for flood risk management. This takes advantage of the tremendous knowledge base and experience that Japan has developed in response to its prevalent flooding hazards, and connects it with developing country contexts, where flooding regularly causes loss of life and damage to property, while disrupting economic activity.
Through its Knowledge Program, the DRM Hub is developing knowledge notes on Japan’s successful approaches to this difficult challenges. Knowledge exchange and dissemination - such as the Technical Deep Dive on Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management in April 2016 - bring developing country clients to Japan to better understand and engage Japanese expertise in this area, while connecting to clients through operational knowledge exchanges and public seminars and events.
