Listening to missing voices to improve early warning systems in Thiès, Senegal

This publication proactively reaches out to the most marginalised people within Thiès, Senegal, to understand their experiences of flooding and diverse needs and capacities, to inform a more inclusive and effective EWS. The study found that flooding in Thiès disrupts the lives of communities, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised (e.g., women, widows, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, etc.). Whilst authorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide some assistance to at-risk populations in the response phase and after the flooding occurs (e.g., food and financial assistance, water pumping, etc.), issues remain, such as lack of access to essential early warning information and social infrastructure, water contamination, and mosquito proliferation.

Underlying socio-economic factors, such as low income, is also associated with cultural factors contributing to exclusion and low participation in decision-making meetings and the co-production of the EWS and risk mapping. Recommendations and action plans for all stakeholders (e.g., local and administrative authorities, communities, NGOs, etc.) promote the co-production of inclusive EWS, the inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable groups in decision-making, and psychological support. Structural solutions also need to be found (e.g., rainwater and wastewater infrastructure), as well as the potential relocation of populations from certain flood-prone sites. It is important to carry out further studies, including on gender-based violence, to fully understand the lives of marginalised people affected by flooding in Thiès.