Governance issues constraining the deployment of flood resilience strategies in Maroua, Far North Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Purpose Cities across the globe, particularly those of the less developed world, face long-term challenges associated with floods which impact negatively on the resilience of city systems and their inhabitants. In the city of Maroua, most urban management stakeholders have been unable to integrate flood resilience research into urban development issues. It is against this background that the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the governance issues constraining the deployment of flood resilience strategies implemented by residents in flood-prone zones and those used by the government via administrative authorities and institutions charged with urban development to flood-related risks in the city of Maroua, Far North Region of Cameroon. Design/methodology/approach Field surveys, participant observations, interviews, and on-the-spot appraisals were carried out with residents in flood-prone neighbourhoods and municipal authorities on the state of recurrent floods including mitigating strategies being implemented. Findings The results revealed that Maroua has a fragile ecological setting which has increased the vulnerability of the town to flood-related risks. This is further aggravated by the fact that municipal authorities are yet to have a thorough mastery of such recurrent flood incidences due to their limited planning horizons, rendering the urban poor disproportionately susceptible to flood-related stresses. This exposes them to unavoidable flood associated hazards such as water borne diseases (typhoid and cholera) as they are bogged down by physical and financial limitations. Besides, decision-making processes in relation to managing urban systems are not guided by good governance as efforts to enhance and integrate the local population for flood resilience are neither participatory nor inclusive, ushering the urban environment of Maroua into a frivolous path to profligacy. Originality/value For resilience to be deeply entrenched, the paper proffers for the mainstreaming of flood resilience strategies into urban development plans through multi-stakeholder involvement across different sectors and departments, as well as the setting up of a practical time table for monitoring the progress of these measures through geospatial technologies such as remote sensing and geographical information systems.

Resilience in the Context of Pandemics and Disasters: A Framework for Public Governance, Ecosystem Innovation, Co-creation, and Co-production

“…Thus, with the increasing incidence of disasters, governance efforts are being made to address the challenges and make structures more resilient (Nkwunonwo et al, 2014). However, some obstacles are noticeable such as the lack of synergy between society at large (citizens, research and innovation centers, companies, non-profit entities, and other actors) and local governance in the search for innovative and appropriate solutions to sustainable resilience (Wanie & Ndi, 2018). Governments depend on the functioning of their governance structure.…”

“…Governments depend on the functioning of their governance structure. There are numerous occasions for governments to subsidize or contribute inappropriately to the adoption of actions to cool the risks of shocks, adapt to them, or minimize their consequences (Malalgoda et al, 2013;Wanie & Ndi, 2018).…”

“…The existence of these dysfunctions in local governance can restrict resilience strategies, including institutional gaps, financial limitations, lack of knowledge of existing legislation, lack of commitment to local planning, unskilled and inadequate labor. Notably, minimally adequate governance requires effective decentralization, autonomy, transparency, accountability, flexibility and responsiveness, innovation, inclusion, and society's participation at the planning and management levels (Wanie & Ndi, 2018).…”

“…Political inertia, constant government exchange, and disproportionate power relations need to be addressed (Wanie & Ndi, 2018), as well as barriers attributed to lack of data, weak awareness and participation of the population, disability in risk knowledge, mitigation policies and government policies (Nkwunonwo et al, 2014). Political pressure, power relations, opportunism, and bribery often annulled regulations, planning instruments, and investments (Malalgoda et al, 2013).…”

“…It is the role of governance to stimulate this environment of cooperation between the actors for solutions in complex and catastrophic contexts. The participatory and inclusive environment encourages co-creation and co-production of public value, the development and strengthening of resilience (Vignieri & Bianchi, 2017;Wanie & Ndi, 2018;Ricciardelli, Manfredi, & Antonicelli, 2018).…”