The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) and the World Bank Tokyo Disaster Risk Management Hub, together with experts from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), are organizing a Technical Deep Dive (TDD) on Urban Flood Management from February 2 to 6, 2026, in Tokyo and Shizuoka. Approximately 50 policymakers and practitioners from 10 World Bank client countries, working in urban development, disaster risk management, and water-related sectors, are expected to participate. This TDD was made possible with support from the Government of Japan.
Floods are among the most frequent natural hazards worldwide, causing severe human and economic losses, particularly in dense urban areas. By 2050, yearly projected losses are estimated at US$52 billion, accounting only for socioeconomic changes and not factoring in subsidence or climate change. With 70 percent of the global population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, climate change and socioeconomic development are likely to exacerbate the problem as floods become more frequent and more severe. National and municipal government agencies must therefore identify adaptation strategies and adopt sustainable, risk-informed investments to better manage urban flood risks if they are to minimize the misery and disruption that flooding brings, help reduce poverty, and achieve sustainable economic growth.
Building on the Urban Flood Management TDD held in March 2025, this edition builds on foundational elements such as urban flood risk assessment and planning, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of solutions at the city scale, and further strengthens its focus on implementation, with emphasis practical aspects such as flood‑risk‑adapted land use, financing, and private sector involvement. Centered on an integrated approach combining gray, green, and blue infrastructure, the TDD will draw on Japanese and global case studies, expert-led sessions, interactive exercises, and site visits to support participants in translating lessons learned into policies, projects, and investment decisions.