Kigali is highly vulnerable to flash floods due to intense rainfall events and rapid land cover change. The 2022 impervious surfaces dataset shows how expanding paved and built-up areas block natural water infiltration. Combined with inadequate drainage and encroachment on wetlands, this urbanisation pattern increases flood risks. A devastating flood in December 2019 underscored the urgency of improving flood management.

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.

The GDA 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 reveals 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.