A spectrum of methods for a spectrum of risk: Generating evidence to understand and reduce urban risk in sub-Saharan Africa.

David Dodman,David Satterthwaite,Donald Brown,Faith Taylor,Mark Pelling,Maria Rusca,Mtafu Manda,Hayley Leck,Ibidun Adelekan,Blessing Mberu

doi:10.1111/area.12510

Abstract

Many African towns and cities face a range of hazards, which can best be described as representing a “spectrum of risk” of events that can cause death, illness or injury, and impoverishment. Yet despite the growing numbers of people living in African urban centres, the extent and relative severity of these different risks is poorly understood. This paper provides a rationale for using a spectrum of methods to address this spectrum of risk, and demonstrates the utility of mixed‐methods approaches in planning for resilience. It describes activities undertaken in a wide‐ranging multi‐country programme of research, which use multiple approaches to gather empirical data on risk, in order to build a stronger evidence base and provide a more solid base for planning and investment. It concludes that methods need to be chosen in regard to social, political economic, biophysical and hydrogeological context, while also recognising the different levels of complexity and institutional capacity in different urban centres. The paper concludes that as well as the importance of taking individual contexts into account, there are underlying methodological principles – based on multidisciplinary expertise and multi‐faceted and collaborative research endeavours – that can inform a range of related approaches to understanding urban risk in sub‐Saharan Africa and break the cycle of risk accumulation.

Highlights

Many sub‐Saharan African towns and cities are risky places (Adelekan et al, 2015; Bull‐Kamanga et al, 2003)
This paper describes and reflects on methodological approaches used in a large multi‐disciplinary, multi‐country programme of research and capacity building – Urban Africa: Risk, Knowledge (Urban ARK)1 – as the basis for understanding risk in urban centres in sub‐Saharan Africa
Rusca et al (2017) used a household survey, semi‐structured interviews and focus groups to understand preferences and motivations around hygiene in Lilongwe. The use of these methods helped to build an understanding of both the direct benefits of hygiene practices and the co‐benefits that they can produce for reducing health risk in low‐income urban areas. Another sensitive issue that can be investigated in this way that contributes to risk and resilience is the relationship between social cohesion and risk: Mitra et al (2017) used individual interviews and focus groups to show how slum upgrading can reduce conflict, crime, insecurity and flood risks in Kibera, Nairobi – a wide range of inter‐related risks affecting low‐income residents

Summary

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A spectrum of methods for a spectrum of risk: Generating evidence to understand and reduce urban risk in sub‐Saharan Africa. This paper provides a rationale for using a spectrum of methods to address this spectrum of risk, and demonstrates the utility of mixed‐methods approaches in planning for resilience It describes activities undertaken in a wide‐ranging multi‐country programme of research, which use multiple approaches to gather empirical data on risk, in order to build a stronger evidence base and provide a more solid base for planning and investment. The paper concludes that as well as the importance of taking individual contexts into account, there are underlying methodological principles – based on multidisciplinary expertise and multi‐faceted and collaborative research endeavours – that can inform a range of related approaches to understanding urban risk in sub‐Saharan Africa and break the cycle of risk accumulation

| INTRODUCTION

METHODOLOGICAL DEFICIT

Findings

Complex Risk