Resilient Water Accelerator Publishes Landmark City Characterisation Report for Lagos to Boost Climate Resilience
The Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA) proudly presents a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to enhance climate resilience through clean and dependable water resources and services in Lagos. The release of the "City Characterisation Report" is part of the RWA's mission to address water-related challenges in one of Africa's largest and fastest-growing cities.
This comprehensive report assesses Lagos's water basin and systems, critical assets, and governance by employing the City Water Resilience Approach (CWRA). The CWRA process aims to inform downstream actions, including project prioritisation, by conducting a thorough analysis of the city's intricate water system, and the shocks and stresses it faces.
Lagos at a Glance:
Lagos, with a population exceeding 20 million, is a bustling metropolis surrounded by wetlands, lagoons, and the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its watery surroundings, the city faces complex water system challenges. Shockingly, only 10% of Lagos residents have access to municipal water supply, underlining the urgency of RWA's work.
The report sheds light on the significant water-related challenges that Lagos faces, exacerbated by climate change. Prominent among these challenges is recurrent flooding, attributed to an insufficient drainage system and the loss of blue and green infrastructure.
Moreover, groundwater exploitation from uncontrolled aquifer utilisation, coupled with underground and surface water pollution, places added stress on the city's water system. The report also highlights governance issues, with various entities holding overlapping responsibilities in the water space.
Perhaps the most critical challenge Lagos faces is the lack of investment in the water sector. This deficiency encompasses the absence of new infrastructure investments and the need for rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance of existing services.
The findings from this report serve as an essential first step toward a more holistic view of Lagos's water sector. They form the foundation upon which decision-makers can appreciate the urgency of investments and acknowledge the significance of RWA's mission to attract funding to the sector.
The Resilient Water Accelerator remains dedicated to advancing water resilience in Lagos and beyond, and we invite stakeholders and partners to join us in this crucial endeavour.
To view the full report, please click here
For more information, please contact:
Jenny Wells
Policy and Communications Manager
Resilient Water Accelerator
About Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA)
The Resilient Water Accelerator is a new initiative designed to increase the flow of private and public finance into water projects that help the most climate-vulnerable communities build resilience to climate change. We bring relevant decision makers, technical experts and investors together to create deal pipelines that address water risk, strengthen resilience and attract domestic or international private. We are a globally-distributed team, bringing on-the-ground expertise and comprehensive perspectives, combining climate policy, water economics, private finance, measurement and evaluation, and governance.
To learn more, visit www.resilientwateraccelerator.org