Navigating the Politics of Fluidity: Spatial Justice and Climate Adaptation in West African Informal Settlements

This session presents evidence-based insights into the politics of fluidity, a framework examining how informal governance and spatial planning intersect in rapidly urbanizing West African cities. Drawing on a 2025 flood adaptation study funded by the American Red Cross, the paper analyzes the disconnect between statutory town planning and the lived realities of residents in flood-prone informal settlements.



Using case studies from coastal slums in Lagos, Nigeria, the research utilizes mixed-methods mapping to track community-led adaptation strategies. Findings reveal that while these settlements demonstrate high resilience, a lack of spatial justice in both governmental and community-led interventions affects resource access. This study provides a critical regional perspective on how global climate finance can be restructured to reach marginalized urban populations. The paper proposes a hybrid governance model for integrating informal resilience into city-wide Climate Action Plans (CAPs), aligning local implementation with the IPCC Special Report on Cities to ensure equitable urban futures.