Framework for participatory and collaborative modelling (using generic framework from Basco-Carrera et al. (2017)) applied to the Kibera case study
| Factor | Parameter | Subparameter | Kibera flood model | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Context and application | Problem type | Problem description | A project initiated in 2015 to involve residents in flood risk management processes in the low-income and informal Kibera neighbourhood of Nairobi | ||||
| Problem structure | The problem can be described as ‘unstructured’ – meaning a low degree of consensus between stakeholders and a lack of scientific certainty following the description of Basco-Carrera et al. (2017) | ||||||
| Scale of action | The geographic flood model extents were defined as the Kibera neighbourhood in downtown Nairobi and surrounding neighbourhoods (2100 ha). The total upstream catchment draining to the Nairobi dam is 4500 ha, and upstream of Kibera consists mainly of protected forested areas (the Ngong Forest) | ||||||
| Time horizon | The outputs of the modelling process were applied in the development of flood risk awareness exercises as well as built projects in the settlement in 2015–2018 | ||||||
| Domain | Prior to this project, no flood mapping had been produced for the Kibera settlement to the knowledge of the authors. A series of models are emerging in 2018–2019 for Nairobi and for Kibera in particular | ||||||
| Interaction context | Co-operative/competitive | Model specification included open-source software and multistakeholder participation in model development and application. The interaction context was highly co-operative | |||||
| Specific use | Participatory/collaborative modelling purpose | (a) Decision-making, (b) collaborative learning, (c) mediation, (d) model improvement | Relevant project objectives from the Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI, 2015): (a) the need to develop an approach to flood modelling and risk mapping that is applicable in the informal context and integrates community-level information on multiple hazards and risks and (b) the need to build the capacity of institutional stakeholders to undertake integrated FRM and implement flood management options in a consultative and collaborative fashion | ||||
| Planning/management cycle phase | Policy (treatment of riparian zones), planning (small- and large-scale), implementation (site-specific flood risk assessments) | ||||||
| Information handling | Model characterisation | Model system focus/model type | One-dimensional (1D) hydraulic computer-based model | ||||
| Modelling tool/software platform | Mapping and analysis of catchment data with Quantum GIS model build carried out using 1D Flood Modeller, (free to use for models with fewer than 250 computational nodes) | ||||||
| Information type | The 1D Flood Modeller software simulates several input storm scenarios and produces outputs at all cross-sectional locations. The model calculates the flood flow, stage (level of water) and velocity at the centre of the channel for each cross section and interpolates between the sections, approximately every 100 m. The stage information was used in conjunction with the lidar topographic surface to estimate flood depths and create flood depth and flood extent maps | ||||||
| Information delivery medium | Virtual/web/face to face | During the process, information was accessed directly from the model, through online and printed maps, and used in workshop formats | |||||
| Stakeholder involvement structure | Participatory method | Participatory/collaborative | Technical, institutional civil society and resident stakeholders were officially involved in all stages of the modelling process, although the level of participation varied depending on the stage | ||||
| Stakeholders involved | Organisation(s) | KDI: non-profit, urban intermediary – project leader | BuroHappold (BH) Engineering – modelling team | Nairobi City County (NCC) – Department of Public Works – government | Kibera community-based organisations (CBOs) – civil society | Stockholm University/Technical University of Kenya (TUK) – academic institutions | |
| Type of stake | Advocate for resident’s engagement in planning and the integration of scientific and local knowledge | International engineering firm gaining experience in a new geography, exposing team members to new experiences, corporate social responsibility value | Mandate to manage municipal drainage and reduce flood impacts. Important voter issue | CBO groups of Kibera residents living along the river involved in data collection, model verification, model application (project development). Often identify flood risk as number one environmental challenge | Advisory role and potential user | ||
| Skills and knowledge | Engineering, design, planning and community professionals. Limited modelling experience/capacity | Extensive expertise in flood modelling | Some technical capacity | Local knowledge of flood impacts (Mulligan et al., 2017) | Significant modelling experience at TUK | ||
| Model users | Direct/indirect | BH – main direct users; KDI and NCC indirect users | |||||
| Technical skills | KDI and TUK have the technical skills to take on and adapt the model with training from BH | ||||||
| Participation mode | Only modellers (no participation)/individuals/groups | Model definition was defined by BH and KDI. Modelling was carried out by BH with inputs from KDI. Some consultation with other partners (i.e. TUK) | |||||
| Level of participation | Ignorance/awareness/information/consultation/discussion/co-design/co-decision-making | The stakeholder group was involved at different levels, at different stages, from ignorance to co-decision-making. This is explored further in Section 5 | |||||
| Timing of participation | Data collection/model definition/model construction/model validation and verification/model use/formulation of measures and design of strategies | Technical, governmental, civil society and resident stakeholders were officially involved in all stages of the modelling process although the level of participation at each stage of each partner varied significantly. This is explored further in Section 6 of this paper | |||||
| Type of co-operation | Unilateral action/coordination/collaboration/joint action | The type of co-operation depended on the type of application but tended towards collaboration and joint action. This is explored further in Section 6 | |||||
| Modelling/organising team | Team skills | Modelling skills/facilitation skills/knowledge acquisition skills/process management skills | KDI/BH. KDI experts in facilitation/participation | ||||
| Means | Timing of participation/financial resources | Project funded by grant-making organisation (Swiss Re Foundation) | Significant contributions (without pay) from project partners | ||||
| Factor | Parameter | Subparameter | Kibera flood model | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Context and application | Problem type | Problem description | A project initiated in 2015 to involve residents in flood risk management processes in the low-income and informal Kibera neighbourhood of Nairobi | ||||
| Problem structure | The problem can be described as ‘unstructured’ – meaning a low degree of consensus between stakeholders and a lack of scientific certainty following the description of | ||||||
| Scale of action | The geographic flood model extents were defined as the Kibera neighbourhood in downtown Nairobi and surrounding neighbourhoods (2100 ha). The total upstream catchment draining to the Nairobi dam is 4500 ha, and upstream of Kibera consists mainly of protected forested areas (the Ngong Forest) | ||||||
| Time horizon | The outputs of the modelling process were applied in the development of flood risk awareness exercises as well as built projects in the settlement in 2015–2018 | ||||||
| Domain | Prior to this project, no flood mapping had been produced for the Kibera settlement to the knowledge of the authors. A series of models are emerging in 2018–2019 for Nairobi and for Kibera in particular | ||||||
| Interaction context | Co-operative/competitive | Model specification included open-source software and multistakeholder participation in model development and application. The interaction context was highly co-operative | |||||
| Specific use | Participatory/collaborative modelling purpose | ( | Relevant project objectives from the Kounkuey Design Initiative ( | ||||
| Planning/management cycle phase | Policy (treatment of riparian zones), planning (small- and large-scale), implementation (site-specific flood risk assessments) | ||||||
| Information handling | Model characterisation | Model system focus/model type | One-dimensional (1D) hydraulic computer-based model | ||||
| Modelling tool/software platform | Mapping and analysis of catchment data with Quantum GIS model build carried out using 1D Flood Modeller, (free to use for models with fewer than 250 computational nodes) | ||||||
| Information type | The 1D Flood Modeller software simulates several input storm scenarios and produces outputs at all cross-sectional locations. The model calculates the flood flow, stage (level of water) and velocity at the centre of the channel for each cross section and interpolates between the sections, approximately every 100 m. The stage information was used in conjunction with the lidar topographic surface to estimate flood depths and create flood depth and flood extent maps | ||||||
| Information delivery medium | Virtual/web/face to face | During the process, information was accessed directly from the model, through online and printed maps, and used in workshop formats | |||||
| Stakeholder involvement structure | Participatory method | Participatory/collaborative | Technical, institutional civil society and resident stakeholders were officially involved in all stages of the modelling process, although the level of participation varied depending on the stage | ||||
| Stakeholders involved | Organisation(s) | KDI: non-profit, urban intermediary – project leader | BuroHappold (BH) Engineering – modelling team | Nairobi City County (NCC) – Department of Public Works – government | Kibera community-based organisations (CBOs) – civil society | Stockholm University/Technical University of Kenya (TUK) – academic institutions | |
| Type of stake | Advocate for resident’s engagement in planning and the integration of scientific and local knowledge | International engineering firm gaining experience in a new geography, exposing team members to new experiences, corporate social responsibility value | Mandate to manage municipal drainage and reduce flood impacts. Important voter issue | CBO groups of Kibera residents living along the river involved in data collection, model verification, model application (project development). Often identify flood risk as number one environmental challenge | Advisory role and potential user | ||
| Skills and knowledge | Engineering, design, planning and community professionals. Limited modelling experience/capacity | Extensive expertise in flood modelling | Some technical capacity | Local knowledge of flood impacts ( | Significant modelling experience at TUK | ||
| Model users | Direct/indirect | BH – main direct users; KDI and NCC indirect users | |||||
| Technical skills | KDI and TUK have the technical skills to take on and adapt the model with training from BH | ||||||
| Participation mode | Only modellers (no participation)/individuals/groups | Model definition was defined by BH and KDI. Modelling was carried out by BH with inputs from KDI. Some consultation with other partners (i.e. TUK) | |||||
| Level of participation | Ignorance/awareness/information/consultation/discussion/co-design/co-decision-making | The stakeholder group was involved at different levels, at different stages, from ignorance to co-decision-making. This is explored further in | |||||
| Timing of participation | Data collection/model definition/model construction/model validation and verification/model use/formulation of measures and design of strategies | Technical, governmental, civil society and resident stakeholders were officially involved in all stages of the modelling process although the level of participation at each stage of each partner varied significantly. This is explored further in | |||||
| Type of co-operation | Unilateral action/coordination/collaboration/joint action | The type of co-operation depended on the type of application but tended towards collaboration and joint action. This is explored further in | |||||
| Modelling/organising team | Team skills | Modelling skills/facilitation skills/knowledge acquisition skills/process management skills | KDI/BH. KDI experts in facilitation/participation | ||||
| Means | Timing of participation/financial resources | Project funded by grant-making organisation (Swiss Re Foundation) | Significant contributions (without pay) from project partners | ||||
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