Poster #152 - Climate Resilience and Collective Action in Monrovia’s Coastal Communities

• In Event: Friday Poster Reception

Abstract

Like many low-lying coastal nations, Liberia faces severe threats from sea level rise, coastal erosion, and flooding. These threats are particularly acute for residents of informal slum communities, who are often relegated to high-hazard areas that lack basic infrastructure and are frequently overlooked by government officials. While some countries have developed a variety of policies and strategies to help their coastal communities adapt to these threats, Liberia’s limited national institutional capacity has left adaptation up to coastal residents and other local stakeholders. This research examines how collective action shapes climate resilience and adaptation strategies in response to sea level rise and coastal erosion in two of the largest slum communities in Liberia, West Point and New Kru Town. It investigates how residents in these communities experience and respond to coastal hazards, the role of government and civil society actors in supporting adaptation, and the barriers to effective collective action. Drawing on 40 semi-structured interviews with residents, local leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives, alongside participant observation, and geospatial analysis of built-up area change using GIS and satellite imagery, the study employs a mixed-methods approach to assess both social and environmental dimensions of vulnerability. However, the study reveals significant disparities in government attention and adaptation outcomes between the two communities, with New Kru Town receiving more infrastructural support than West Point. The findings also highlight significant gaps in government-community collaboration, funding limitations, and fragmented policy frameworks that undermine coastal resilience efforts. Despite these challenges, resilience in these communities is sustained through grassroots efforts, local ownership of adaptation initiatives, informal early warning systems, and grassroots activism. By combining qualitative thematic analysis with geospatial data, this study contributes to the global discussions on climate adaptation governance, highlighting the need for durable, government-backed solutions and stronger institutional accountability to support frontline communities in low-income, climate-vulnerable urban settings.

Author

• Mohammed W Bah, University of California, Irvine
  Presenting Author