Urban Sustainability: How EO is transforming flood management in Kigali, Rwanda
- Earth Observation (EO) technology provides critical insights for flood risk management and urban planning.
- Wetlands play a crucial role in reducing flood risks, but urban expansion threatens these natural defences.
- The collaboration between ESA’s GDA Urban Sustainability thematic activity and the World Bank has enabled Kigali to use EO data for smarter decision-making.
- Rwanda’s investment in geospatial data, including the new Geospatial Data Hub, will help scale EO solutions nationwide.
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
- Earth Observation (EO) technology provides critical insights for flood risk management and urban planning.
- Wetlands play a crucial role in reducing flood risks, but urban expansion threatens these natural defences.
- The collaboration between ESA’s GDA Urban Sustainability thematic activity and the World Bank has enabled Kigali to use EO data for smarter decision-making.
- Rwanda’s investment in geospatial data, including the new Geospatial Data Hub, will help scale EO solutions nationwide.
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
Kigali experiences frequent heavy rainfall, making it highly vulnerable to flash floods. Rapid urbanisation, poor drainage, and blocked natural water paths exacerbate flood risks.
In December 2019, a severe flood caused fatalities and widespread destruction, underscoring the urgent need for better flood management.
Unchecked urban expansion threatens wetlands, reducing their ability to absorb excess rainwater and increasing the likelihood of severe flooding.
By visualising how wetlands change over time, we give city planners and national authorities the evidence they need to act with confidence. It’s about turning satellite data into insight and insight into smarter, more resilient urban planning.
David Taverner,
ESA GDA M&E consortium lead
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
Kigali experiences frequent heavy rainfall, making it highly vulnerable to flash floods. Rapid urbanisation, poor drainage, and blocked natural water paths exacerbate flood risks.
In December 2019, a severe flood caused fatalities and widespread destruction, underscoring the urgent need for better flood management.
Unchecked urban expansion threatens wetlands, reducing their ability to absorb excess rainwater and increasing the likelihood of severe flooding.
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
To address these challenges, ESA’s GDA Urban Sustainability thematic activity joined forces with the World Bank’s Second Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDPII).
Earth Observation tools were introduced to track wetland habitat changes between 2017 and 2022.
These maps help identify where wetlands are being lost to urban growth - and where restoration is making progress.
Planners now have concrete, spatial evidence to guide interventions and enhance flood resilience.
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
To address these challenges, ESA’s GDA Urban Sustainability thematic activity joined forces with the World Bank’s Second Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDPII).
Earth Observation tools were introduced to track wetland habitat changes between 2017 and 2022.
These maps help identify where wetlands are being lost to urban growth - and where restoration is making progress.
Planners now have concrete, spatial evidence to guide interventions and enhance flood resilience.
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
The GDA Urban Sustainability team collaborated with REMA (Rwanda Environment Management Authority), the Rwanda Water Board, and the City of Kigali to integrate EO tools into daily planning.
The “water extent and frequency” dataset layers reveal areas where water persistently accumulates, crucial for identifying flood-prone zones.
Together with wetland change maps, these tools support Kigali’s Wetlands Master Plan, improve restoration tracking and offer a scalable model for long-term flood risk monitoring.
Wetlands are natural buffers against urban flooding, but managing them effectively requires consistent, trusted data. Through GDA, ESA is helping national and city authorities in Rwanda turn EO insights into practical planning tools, supporting a future where nature-based solutions are part of every city’s resilience strategy.
Gregor Herda,
Urban Development specialist at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
The GDA Urban Sustainability team collaborated with REMA (Rwanda Environment Management Authority), the Rwanda Water Board, and the City of Kigali to integrate EO tools into daily planning.
The “water extent and frequency” dataset layers reveal areas where water persistently accumulates, crucial for identifying flood-prone zones.
Together with wetland change maps, these tools support Kigali’s Wetlands Master Plan, improve restoration tracking and offer a scalable model for long-term flood risk monitoring.
Location
Kigali, Rwanda
Institutions
EO impact key takeaways
- EO tools help cities monitor wetland change and track restoration progress over time.
- Copernicus Sentinel data ensures continuity, offering regular updates at no additional cost.
- Rwanda’s Geospatial Data Hub will scale EO services beyond Kigali, enabling nationwide impact.
- Informed, data-driven planning strengthens flood resilience and supports sustainable urban development.
- Kigali is setting an example for how EO can transform flood management and urban decision-making.
With EO-driven monitoring, Rwanda is setting the stage for smarter flood management, proving that data-driven planning can turn insights into lasting impact.
Read more about Rwanda's flood management in this story on the GDA website.
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