Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Communities’ Perceptions and Coping Strategies to Flood Hazard in a Peri-Urban Catchment: The Case Study of the Zio River Basin, Togo, West Africa

Received: 6 April 2024     Accepted: 23 April 2024     Published: 10 May 2024
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Climate and land use changes have exacerbated the frequency and intensity of floods in West Africa. In Togo, the communities of the Zio river sub-basin are regularly affected by flood hazard with severe socio-economic consequences. The main objective of this article is to contribute to the improvement of the resilience of these populations through a better understanding of their perceptions and coping strategies to flood hazards. To achieve this goal, a mixed method consisting of household surveys, focus groups and direct observation is used. In addition, the data collected at the household level focused on the perceptions of the flood (origin and cause), the socio-economic impacts as well as the coping strategies. The results indicate that more than 80% of the households are affected by floods and the main negative consequences are the destruction of houses (40.8%), and interruption of socio-economic activities (58.4%). In addition, the efforts to cope with the severe impacts of floods include embankment (71.6%), storage on occasional shelves (52.3%), digging ditches (26.6% and the construction of cement houses with fairly raised foundations (13.1%). This study shows that is important to integrate indigenous knowledge and local population’s opinions in the flood risk management plans in order to increase their resilience.

Published in International Journal of Sustainable Development Research (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11
Page(s) 43-55
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Floods, Perceptions, Coping Strategies, Resilience, Peri-Urban, Zio River Basin

References
[1] Hewawasam, V.; Matsui, K. 2022. Assessing Community Perceptions on Urban Flood Resilience in Sri Lanka. Geoscience 12, 406.
[2] Haque, C. E.; Zaman, J. R.; Walker, D. 2023. Risk-Reduction, Coping, and Adaptation to Flood Hazards in Manitoba, Canada: Evidence from Communities in the Red River Valley. Geosciences 2023, 13, 88.
[3] IFRC. 2020. Rapport sur les catastrophes dans le monde en 2020. Contre marées et chaleurs. IFRC. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Global Report on Internal Displacement (p. 159).
[4] Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. 2019. Global Report on Internal Displacement.
[5] Tazen, F., Diarra, A., Kabore, R. F. W., Ibrahim, B., Bologo/Traoré, M., Traoré, K., & Karambiri, H. 2019. Trends in flood events and their relationship to extreme rainfall in an urban area of Sahelian West Africa: The case study of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Journal of Flood Risk Management, 12(S1), e12507.
[6] Weldegebriel, Z. B., & Amphune, B. E. 2017. Livelihood resilience in the face of recurring floods: An empirical evidence from Northwest Ethiopia. Geoenvironmental Disasters, 4(1), 10.
[7] GIEC 2014. Changements climatiques 2014: Rapport de synthèse. Contribution des Groupes de travail I, II et III au cinquième Rapport d’évaluation du Groupe d’experts intergouvernemental sur l’évolution du climat. Genève, Suisse, 2014, 161 p.
[8] Tschakert, P., Sagoe, R., Ofori-Darko, G., & Codjoe, S. N. 2010. Floods in the Sahel: An analysis of anomalies, memory, and anticipatory learning. Climatic Change, 103(3), 471-502.
[9] ANGE 2020. Premier rapport sur l’état de l’environnement du Togo (REET). MEDDPN, Lomé, République togolaise
[10] ECA. 2015. Assessment report on mainstreaming and implementing disaster risk reduction in Togo. Economic Commission for Africa. ECA. 2015. Available at:
[11] Kouamé, P. K.; Fokou, G.; Koffi, A. J. d.; Sani, A.; Bonfoh, B.; Dongo, K. 2022. Assessing Institutional Stakeholders’ Perception and Limitations on Coping Strategies in Flooding Risk Management in West Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19, 6933.
[12] Sokemawu, K. 2017. Les inondations et leurs répercussions socio-économiques et sanitaires dans la basse vallée du Zio au sud du Togo. Revue Ivoirienne de Géographie des Savanes, 2, 6-18.
[13] Klassou, K. S. 2014. L’influence humaine dans l’origine et la gravité des inondations au Togo: Cas de l’aménagement de l’espace dans la grande banlieue nord de Lomé (Togble-Adetikope). Revue de Géographie Tropicale et d’Environnement, 2, 41-53.
[14] Kissi, A. E., Abbey, G. A., Agboka, K., & Egbendewe, A. 2015. Quantitative Assessment of Vulnerability to Flood Hazards in Downstream Area of Mono Basin, South-Eastern Togo: Yoto District. Journal of Geographic Information System, 7(6), Article 6.
[15] Parkoo, E. N., Thiam, S., Adjonou, K., Kokou, K., Verleysdonk, S., Adounkpe, J. G., & Villamor, G. B. 2022. Comparing Expert and Local Community Perspectives on Flood Management in the Lower Mono River Catchment, Togo and Benin. Water, 14(10), Article 10.
[16] Komi, K., Amisigo, B. A., & Diekkrüger, B. 2016. Integrated Flood Risk Assessment of Rural Communities in the Oti River Basin, West Africa. Hydrology, 3(4), Article 4.
[17] Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. 1970. Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610.
[18] CARE International. Manuel d’analyse de la Vulnérabilité et de la capacité d’adaptation au Changement climatique. 2009, available at:
[19] Bardin, L. 2013 L’analyse de contenu (2e éd.). PUF.
[20] Frederico, M., Arnaldo, C., Capurchande, R., Decat, P., & Michielsen, K. 2023. Adults’ Perceptions on Adolescent Attitudes towards Pregnancy and Abortion in Maputo and Quelimane Cities, Mozambique: An Exploratory Qualitative Study. SocialSciences, 12(1), Article 1.
[21] Badameli, A. P., & Kadouza, P. 2020. Vulnérabilités et stratégies des populations face aux inondations dans la région des Savanes au Nord-Togo. Canadian Journal of Tropical Geography, 7(2), 8.
[22] Braimah, M. M., Abdul-Rahaman, I., Sekyere, D. O.-, Momori, P. H., Abdul-Mohammed, A., & Dordah, G. A. 2014. Study into the Causes of Floods and its Socio-economic Effects on the People of Sawaba in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Upper East, Ghana. International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience, 2(1), 189-195.
[23] Dziwornu, E., & Kugbey, N. 2015. Mental Health Problems and Coping among Flood Victims in Ghana: A Comparative Study of Victims and Non-Victims. Current Research in Psychology, 2015, 6(1), 15-21.
[24] Tomety, Y. D. 2017. Exposition et vulnérabilité face aux risques d’inondation au Burkina Faso: Cas de la ville de Dori [Master de spécialisation en gestion des risques et des catastrophes]. Université de Liège., Belgique.
[25] Soumaré, S.. 2012. Etude de vulnérabilités selon le genre et le rôle des femmes dans la lutte contre les inondations à Djiddah Thiaroye Kao [Rapport final]. Ministère de l’écologie et de la protection de la nature du Sénégal.
[26] Mensah, H., & Ahadzie, D. K.. Causes, impacts and coping strategies of floods in Ghana: A systematic review. SN Applied Sciences, 2020, 2(5), 792.
[27] Blakime, T.-H.; Adjonou, K.; Komi, K.; Hlovor, A. K. D.; Gbafa, K. S.; Zoungrana, J.-B. B.; Polorigni, B.; Kokou, K. 2024. Dynamics of Built-Up Areas and Challenges of Planning and Development of Urban Zone of Greater Lomé in Togo, West Africa. Land 2024, 13, 84.
[28] Klassou, S. 1998. Croissance urbaine et inondation à Lomé: Réflexions sur les facteurs responsables et les perspectives d’avenir. In N. Gayibor, Y. Marguerat, & K. Nyassogbo (Éds.), Le centenaire de Lomé, capitale du Togo (1897-1997), Actes du colloque de Lomé (3-6 mars 1997) (p. 221-231). Presses de l’UB.
[29] Danso, S. Y., & Addo, I. Y. 2017. Coping strategies of households affected by flooding: A case study of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in Ghana. Urban Water Journal, 14(5), 539-545.
[30] Ekoué, A. G. 2020. Représentations socioculturelles du sale et du propre et modes domestiques de gestion des déchets en milieu urbain togolais: Etude de cas à Lomé [Thèse de doctorat en Anthropologie]. Université de Lomé.
[31] Abubakari, M., & Twum, K. O. Cities and floods: A pragmatic insight into the determinants of households’ coping strategies to floods in informal Accra, Ghana. Jamba: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 2019, 11(1), 1-14.
[32] Wisner, B., Pelling, M., Mascarenhas, A., Holloway, A., Ndong, B., Faye, P., Ribot, J., & Simon, D. 2015. Small Cities and Towns in Africa: Insights into Adaptation Challenges and Potentials. Springer., Vol. 4, p. 153-196.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Blakime, T., Komi, K., Adjonou, K., Ekoue, A. G., Gbafa, K. S., et al. (2024). Communities’ Perceptions and Coping Strategies to Flood Hazard in a Peri-Urban Catchment: The Case Study of the Zio River Basin, Togo, West Africa. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 10(2), 43-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Blakime, T.; Komi, K.; Adjonou, K.; Ekoue, A. G.; Gbafa, K. S., et al. Communities’ Perceptions and Coping Strategies to Flood Hazard in a Peri-Urban Catchment: The Case Study of the Zio River Basin, Togo, West Africa. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. Res. 2024, 10(2), 43-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Blakime T, Komi K, Adjonou K, Ekoue AG, Gbafa KS, et al. Communities’ Perceptions and Coping Strategies to Flood Hazard in a Peri-Urban Catchment: The Case Study of the Zio River Basin, Togo, West Africa. Int J Sustain Dev Res. 2024;10(2):43-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11,
      author = {Têtou-Houyo Blakime and Kossi Komi and Kossi Adjonou and Akouété Galé Ekoue and Kodjovi Senanou Gbafa and Botolisam Polorigni and Peter Oyedele and Kouami Kokou},
      title = {Communities’ Perceptions and Coping Strategies to Flood Hazard in a Peri-Urban Catchment: The Case Study of the Zio River Basin, Togo, West Africa
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Sustainable Development Research},
      volume = {10},
      number = {2},
      pages = {43-55},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsdr.20241002.11},
      abstract = {Climate and land use changes have exacerbated the frequency and intensity of floods in West Africa. In Togo, the communities of the Zio river sub-basin are regularly affected by flood hazard with severe socio-economic consequences. The main objective of this article is to contribute to the improvement of the resilience of these populations through a better understanding of their perceptions and coping strategies to flood hazards. To achieve this goal, a mixed method consisting of household surveys, focus groups and direct observation is used. In addition, the data collected at the household level focused on the perceptions of the flood (origin and cause), the socio-economic impacts as well as the coping strategies. The results indicate that more than 80% of the households are affected by floods and the main negative consequences are the destruction of houses (40.8%), and interruption of socio-economic activities (58.4%). In addition, the efforts to cope with the severe impacts of floods include embankment (71.6%), storage on occasional shelves (52.3%), digging ditches (26.6% and the construction of cement houses with fairly raised foundations (13.1%). This study shows that is important to integrate indigenous knowledge and local population’s opinions in the flood risk management plans in order to increase their resilience.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Communities’ Perceptions and Coping Strategies to Flood Hazard in a Peri-Urban Catchment: The Case Study of the Zio River Basin, Togo, West Africa
    
    AU  - Têtou-Houyo Blakime
    AU  - Kossi Komi
    AU  - Kossi Adjonou
    AU  - Akouété Galé Ekoue
    AU  - Kodjovi Senanou Gbafa
    AU  - Botolisam Polorigni
    AU  - Peter Oyedele
    AU  - Kouami Kokou
    Y1  - 2024/05/10
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11
    T2  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
    JF  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
    JO  - International Journal of Sustainable Development Research
    SP  - 43
    EP  - 55
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1832
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20241002.11
    AB  - Climate and land use changes have exacerbated the frequency and intensity of floods in West Africa. In Togo, the communities of the Zio river sub-basin are regularly affected by flood hazard with severe socio-economic consequences. The main objective of this article is to contribute to the improvement of the resilience of these populations through a better understanding of their perceptions and coping strategies to flood hazards. To achieve this goal, a mixed method consisting of household surveys, focus groups and direct observation is used. In addition, the data collected at the household level focused on the perceptions of the flood (origin and cause), the socio-economic impacts as well as the coping strategies. The results indicate that more than 80% of the households are affected by floods and the main negative consequences are the destruction of houses (40.8%), and interruption of socio-economic activities (58.4%). In addition, the efforts to cope with the severe impacts of floods include embankment (71.6%), storage on occasional shelves (52.3%), digging ditches (26.6% and the construction of cement houses with fairly raised foundations (13.1%). This study shows that is important to integrate indigenous knowledge and local population’s opinions in the flood risk management plans in order to increase their resilience.
    
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections