Urban flooding is one of the most pressing natural hazards affecting cities today, driven by rapid urbanization and climate change. It is estimated that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Even without factoring in subsidence or climate change, yearly projected losses are estimated to be around $52 billion. Addressing these risks requires integrated approaches that go beyond infrastructure to include urban planning, governance, and financing.
In response to these challenges, the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), in collaboration with the World Bank Tokyo Disaster Risk Management Hub and experts from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), organized a Technical Deep Dive (TDD) on Urban Flood Management from February 2 to 6, 2026, in Tokyo and Shizuoka, Japan. The program brought together policymakers and practitioners from nine countries—Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Moldova, Morocco, Niger, Peru, Solomon Islands, and Uganda—to learn about global and Japanese good practice and knowledge. It focused on enhancing urban flood resilience through risk-informed urban planning, community engagement, and public-private partnerships covering both structural and nonstructural solutions.
From shared challenges into integrated flood solutions
Through case-based discussions and site visits, TDD participants explored how flood risk can be systematically embedded in urban planning and investment decisions. The focus was on optimizing combinations of gray, green, and blue infrastructure while navigating competing resource priorities and fiscal constraints. Across participating cities, common challenges emerged: aging drainage systems, rapid expansion into flood-prone areas, fragmented institutions, and limited maintenance capacity. Socio-behavioral and environmental factors—such as inadequate solid waste management, low risk awareness, and degradation in upland areas and catchments—were also identified as key constraints.
In response, discussions highlighted that effective flood management requires more than infrastructure. Strong governance, sustainable financing, and institutional coordination are equally critical. The importance of long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) was also underscored, including how cities can better leverage existing assets, private sector efficiencies, and community participation to sustain resilience.
Balancing Flood Management and Urban Development in Japan
In Japan, flood risk management practice integrates urban development and land use planning, enabling both risk reduction and value creation. This approach is illustrated by the Koshigaya Lake Town land readjustment project, led by the Urban Renaissance Agency, where a large detention pond and canals are integrated within urban development. By serving both flood control and placemaking functions, the infrastructure reduces flood risks while attracting private investment. It shows how flood management infrastructure can be designed not just as protection but as a core urban asset.
A similar approach is applied in Shizuoka, where flood risk is managed through a combination of upstream natural storage, a midstream flood divergent channel, and downstream river improvements. The city also repurposes parks and school grounds as temporary storage, illustrating how existing urban spaces can be used to manage flood risk efficiently and cost-effectively.
Global Perspectives and Application to Practice
The Japanese case studies were complemented by international examples, including Durban (eThekwini Municipality) in South Africa. Mr. Russell Stow, a senior practitioner from the city, highlighted the importance of strong governance frameworks, community ownership, and engagement with the private sector and insurance mechanisms—particularly in contexts with informal settlements. These insights informed discussions on how integrated approaches can be adapted to participants’ own contexts.
Participant Voices
“The most important lessons relate to how Japan combines gray infrastructure with nature-based and non-structural measures, and how operations and maintenance are integrated from the beginning. This collaboration will help Peru shift from a reactive model to a more proactive and resilient approach.”
— Mariela Perez-Costa, Urban Specialist of World Bank
“Urban flood management can be strengthened through public–private partnerships. By combining reservoirs, parks, and wetlands, we can reduce flood risks while improving urban livability.”
— Muhumuza Geoffrey, City Physical Planner, Hoima City Council, Uganda
Moving Toward Sustainable Urban Flood Management
The TDD reaffirmed that urban flood management is not solely an engineering challenge, but a broader governance issue requiring coordinated, long-term action. Through country-specific action plans, participants identified priority measures that balance flood risk reduction with urban livability, financial sustainability, and long-term resilience.
With these plans in place, the focus now shifts to implementation, translating knowledge into action and advancing more resilient and sustainable urban development.
Please view the photos here.