Work

Comparative analysis of barriers and opportunities for implementation of blue-green infrastructure for enhancing urban flood resilience in Uganda, Rwanda, and Sweden

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Recent studies have identified a combination of socio-economic, institutional, governance and financing barriers that constrain the adoption of Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) for enhancing urban flood resilience and provision of multiple benefits in cities. However, most barrier analysis studies have used literature reviews, semi-structured interviews, or questionnaire surveys in case studies in the Global North; in contrast, there is limited research and uptake of BGI in flood prone cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study addresses these gaps by conducting a comparative analysis of barriers and opportunities for BGI implementation in two flood prone Sub Saharan African cities (Kampala, Uganda; and Kigali, Rwanda), and one Global North city (Lund, Sweden), with the aim of supporting strategies for BGI implementation and identifying transferable best practices and learning opportunities. Through a systematic mapping of barriers and opportunities based on a stakeholder co-development process, the study identified policy and regulatory challenges, limited public funding for BGI implementation, and institutional challenges as the main barriers to adoption of BGI in the three cases. The study identified several opportunities to increase BGI uptake, including land availability, using public-private partnerships for BGI implementation, and knowledge of the benefits of BGI. In addition, research on multifunctional effects can facilitate funding and implementation of new funding mechanisms, such as tax breaks or reduced utility fees for property owners. The identified barriers, opportunities, and proposed methodological framework can be used to develop strategies for the uptake of BGI to contribute to resilient and sustainable urban water management.

Source: Cities

DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.107713

Authors: Erik Nilsson, Seith N. Mugume, Johanna Sörensen, Marie Leonce Murebwayire, Umaru Garba Wali

Institutions: Lund University, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, United Nations University, Makerere University, College of Science and Technology - University of Rwanda

Language: English

Topic: Urban Stormwater Management Solutions

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Clean water and sanitation, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000