Adapting coastal cities and territories to sea level rise in West Africa: Challenges and leading practices

This report provides an overview of current challenges and highlights, through case studies and boxes, some examples of leading practices and possible responses in West Africa coastal cities. This report draws on discussions held during the Sea’ties workshop “Adapting coastal cities and territories to sea level rise in West Africa” organised by the Ocean & Climate Platform, in partnership with the Centre de Suivi Écologique, and with the support of Climate Chance, on October 5, 2022, in Dakar, Senegal, as well as a series of individual interviews conducted between October 2022 and February 2023. The Sea’ties workshop brought together more than 60 participants to discuss their practices, the obstacles encountered and their needs in terms of producing and sharing knowledge, how to mobilise financial and private stakeholders to fund solutions, and engage and include local actors in adaptation strategies.

The key recommendations presented in this report, are:

1. Strengthening and sharing coastal knowledge to inform adaptation
2. Promoting integrated, place-based coastal governance
3. Increasing funding for sustainable adaptation strategies for coastal cities