Projets
CO-URGENT
Towards a Congolese Observatory of Urban gullies for Research, Governance, and Early warniNg sysTem development
Focusing on the cities of Kinshasa and Bukavu (Fig. appendix 3), the CO-URGENT project builds on the achievements of the ARES-PRD PREMITURG project. The main objective is to create a collaborative framework that combines scientific research, citizen science, and policy advocacy to better monitor, understand and mitigate urban gullies in DRC, and to improve disaster risk management and urban planning. CO-URGENT will provide a proof of concept for the development of an urgently needed observatory of UGs and their impacts, in preparation of an early warning system.
Specifically, this project aims to (1) raise awareness and encourage public involvement in monitoring UGs in Kinshasa and Bukavu, (2) gather more precise, in-situ data on (i) the socio-economic impacts of UGs, (ii) the formation and expansion dynamics of UGs and (iii) the rainfall events associated with these dynamics, and (3) advocate in an informed, responsible and collaborative way for political and administrative authorities, as well as NGOs, to take concrete and effective measures to reduce UG disaster risks.
Investigateur principal:
Dates:
2025 2027Collaborateurs:
Partenaires externes:
Charles Bielders (UCLouvain)Matthias Vanmaercke (KULeuven)
Guy Ilombe Mawe (Université Officielle Officielle de Bukavu)
Toussaint Mugaruka Bubentyo (Université Officielle de Bukavu)
Eric Lutete (Université de Kinshasa)