Sustainable Urban Drainage in Flood Management Forecasting in Mauritius

Implementing Partner: Build Change

Project name: Sustainable Urban Drainage in Flood Management Forecasting in Mauritius

This project explores sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) to address increasing flood risks in small islands, driven by rapid urbanization and intensified rainfall.

Traditional drainage struggles with impermeable surfaces, limiting natural water absorption and causing frequent flooding.

By advancing innovative SUDS approaches, the study seeks to enhance stormwater management, strengthen urban resilience, and reduce flood impacts, ensuring safer, resilient, and more sustainable environments for vulnerable island communities facing climate-related challenges.

Loss each year
from floods
$ 0 mn
Outdated urban
drainage networks
0 %

Impact and Key Findings

1

Nature-based drainage solutions like rainwater harvesting, green roofs, and wet gardens reduce peak stormwater flow by around 20%, alleviating pressure on conventional systems. These eco-friendly approaches enhance urban flood management, improving resilience and sustainability in vulnerable areas.

2

Integrating rain gardens and infiltration ponds reduced peak flows by 30%, proving their effectiveness as scalable, cost-efficient solutions for runoff management. These interventions enhance groundwater recharge and strengthen long-term urban flood resilience in vulnerable communities.

3

A community-driven development guideline, supported by a flood risk map, helps planners and residents design safer infrastructure. It informs land-use decisions and strengthens local capacity for climate-adaptive flood management, fostering long-term resilience in vulnerable urban areas.

Resources

Aishwarya Pillai

Lead Specialist

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes. 

Alpana Saha

Director, Partnerships, Governance, and Resource Mobilisation 

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes.