Exploring Informal and Formal Governance Linkages for Climate Adaptation in African Cities: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Abstract

Communities living in informal settlements face significant challenges, including poor housing, limited access to basic services and increased exposure to climate risks such as floods and heatwaves. Collaboration and public participation are increasingly recognised as critical for effective climate governance. However, the extent to which people living or working in informal settlements are meaningfully included in these efforts remains unclear. This study presents a systematic review of 25 peer-reviewed articles that met our inclusion criteria from 281 studies (published 2010–2025) using the PRISMA framework to examine how informal actors are integrated into climate adaptation planning in African cities. The findings highlight approaches such as citizen science, digital storytelling, asset-based community development, inclusive infrastructure upgrading and inclusive governance processes, which can empower informal settlement residents. However, challenges persist in implementing these approaches and in influencing decision-making beyond implementation phases, which include power imbalances, lack of secure tenure for actors living in informal settlements, and limited access to formal governance spaces. Based on these findings, the study proposes approaches that can improve the participation of local-level actors in climate governance towards inclusive and climate-resilient African cities.