Ph: Pluvial Flooding evet: 100 mm in 1h – Talatona, Angola – 21/04/2023.

We are proud to announce that SaferPlaces is working with the World Bank to bring advanced flood risk analytics to Angola, supporting national efforts to build climate resilience and guide smarter water infrastructure investments.

Angola faces growing pressure from climate extremes. Unpredictable rainfall, droughts, and flash floods are threatening the country’s water security, agriculture, and urban systems. To address these challenges, the World Bank’s RECLIMA (Climate Resilience and Water Security in Angola) program is investing US$300 million to improve water services, strengthen resource management, and boost climate adaptation capacity for more than 1.2 million people across several provinces.

Turning Climate Data into Action

Under this partnership, SaferPlaces is providing a suite of high-resolution flood risk analytics designed to give planners and policymakers the clarity they need to make informed decisions. The work includes:

  • Detailed pluvial and flash flood risk maps customized to Angola’s terrain, land cover, and drainage conditions.
  • Scenario-driven flood projections that factor in downscaled climate models and extreme precipitation trends
  • Decision-grade insights to help local authorities, utilities, and development agencies assess vulnerabilities,  prioritize investments, and plan resilient infrastructure.
  • Support for early warning and monitoring systems aligned with the World Bank’s implementation frameworks.

These tools are helping the RECLIMA project refine vulnerability assessments, guide the design of new water and drainage systems, and strengthen local capacity to manage and respond to climate risks.

Why It Matters

Angola’s climate risks are substantial. According to the World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report, floods and droughts caused an estimated US$1.2 billion in damage between 2005 and 2017. High-quality flood risk mapping is key to managing these challenges. By integrating scientific data into planning, Angola can better protect communities, ensure sustainable water use, and reduce future economic losses.

Looking Ahead

This collaboration sets an important precedent for how climate intelligence can be embedded into large-scale resilience investments. The precision of SaferPlaces’ flood risk products, combined with the reach and implementation capacity of the World Bank in Angola, is helping to elevate the standards of climate-resilient infrastructure and to enable evidence-based decision making for urban planning, water systems, and adaptation measures.

By embedding flood intelligence into project planning today, SaferPlaces and the World Bank are helping Angola prepare for a more resilient tomorrow, and offering a scalable model for other climate-vulnerable nations.