Flood protection in Pikine, Senegal

Pikine, Senegal’s second-largest city, is home to 874,000 people. Originally established as a satellite city to alleviate congestion in Dakar, it now comprises 12 densely populated communes. Due to its low-lying geography and proximity to the Senegal River estuary, Pikine is highly vulnerable to flooding, particularly during the rainy season from August to December.

To address this risk, the InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF) has partnered with an international consortium led by AXA Climate, alongside Humanity Insured, urbaSEN, and Eau Vie Environnement (EVE), to develop an index-based pluvial and fluvial flood insurance solution that will provide financial protection for Pikine against severe flooding.

Flood risks are exacerbated by the destruction of vegetation cover, inadequate drainage systems, and a rising groundwater table caused by reduced water extraction from the Thiaroye aquifer. Under this initiative, Pikine will act as the policyholder, using insurance payouts to fund disaster response and reconstruction efforts. The insurance index will be based on local precipitation levels, satellite rainfall data, or flood extent mapping. The coverage will be calibrated using historical loss data and designed for frequent payouts to minimise basis risk.

Rather than providing direct compensation to affected residents, insurance funds will support the rehabilitation of critical public infrastructure and the purchase of emergency relief equipment, such as motorised pumps, health packages, and temporary shelters. The exact distribution of benefits will be determined in collaboration with the city’s leadership, technical teams, and community focus groups. In addition to the insurance product, partners will identify and prioritise potential flood adaptation measures in most vulnerable communes based on costs and benefits and identify next steps to implement them.

This initiative aims to strengthen Pikine’s capacity to finance emergency flood response measures across its 12 communes, ensuring faster recovery and greater protection for its most vulnerable populations. A gender-sensitive approach will be integrated, ensuring women’s active participation in contingency planning and prioritising the rehabilitation of spaces crucial to their livelihoods, such as markets. By implementing this parametric flood insurance solution, Pikine will be better equipped to respond to climate-related disasters, safeguarding its residents and fostering long-term urban resilience. The initiative further complements an ongoing ISF project implemented by the Fonds de Solidarité National (FSN) to scale up financial protection against disasters for vulnerable populations in Senegal.