Mapping for Flood & Crop Risk Modelling - Ghana
Disaster Risk Reduction • Ghana
In 2024, a severe dry spell affected over one million people in Ghana, a stark reminder of what is at stake when rains fail. Through the Ghana Risk Modelling project, HOT is collaborating with a consortium to gather flood exposure data across 4 cities and 3 settlements and map crops across 5 regions, helping build the evidence needed to strengthen disaster planning and financing for communities facing growing climate risks.
The need for risk modelling in Ghana
Climate-related disasters, including floods, droughts, and pest infestations, are becoming more frequent and severe in Ghana. These events affect rural and urban communities alike, threatening lives, livelihoods, food security, and economic stability. Essential crops that support the nation's diet and economy are particularly vulnerable.
As part of this consortium, we’ll develop high-quality geospatial datasets that will be the foundation for assessing urban and coastal flood risks and drought risks in key cities and farming areas, especially for vulnerable populations, critical infrastructure, agriculture, and informal settlements.
Our role in this consortium
The work brings Ghana’s cities, coastal settlements, and farmland into focus. Working alongside ImageCat in the Exposure Data Collation working group, HOT will gather the exposure data needed to assess urban and coastal flood risks as part of the Ghana Risk Modelling consortium.
Mapping will span Tamale, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Cape Coast, alongside Anloga, Ketu, and Keta in the Volta region. Beyond these urban and coastal areas, crop mapping across Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, Oti, and Northern regions will help assess how drought and flooding could affect agriculture.
Using tools like Field TM, QFields, Tasking Manager, FMT Custom ODK, Export Tool, and fAIrMapSwipe, the mapping activities will contribute to exposure and risk modelling databases, with their detail and format tailored to the needs of peril modelling.
People are central to the approach, too. Planned workshops will equip local agencies to collect, develop, and improve exposure data themselves, building capacity that extends beyond the project.
Header image source: Designed by Magnific
