2018 Reports

Participatory Integrated Assessment of Flood Protection
Measures for Climate Adaptation in Dhaka

Haque, Anika Nasra; Grafakos, Stelios

Dhaka, a rapidly growing megacity of over 18 million people, faces severe flood risks due to its location on a deltaic plain, high urbanization, and encroachment on water-retention areas. This study applied a participatory multicriteria analysis (MCA) to evaluate and prioritize flood adaptation measures, incorporating both expert knowledge and stakeholder perspectives from local communities, government, and private actors. Results showed that protecting water-retention areas, enhancing early warning systems, and improving canals were the most effective and feasible measures, while upgrading drainage systems ranked lower due to high cost and technical constraints. The participatory process strengthened decision-making legitimacy, promoted knowledge sharing, and provided a framework for prioritizing adaptation strategies in resource-constrained, high-vulnerability contexts.