In the face of unstoppable urbanisation, disaster risks are projected to increase, mainly in unplanned areas that usually lack disaster risk reducing infrastructure. In Africa, including South Africa, limited resources and capacity hinder the provision of such infrastructure. The objective of this study was to determine options for promoting disaster risk reducing infrastructure in informal settlements in Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa, a disaster risk-prone area. A case study was conducted to collect primary data from purposively selected experts and the SWOT factors from the Integrated Development Plan Report of 2019/2020. A TOWS analytical hierarchical process was applied to pairwise comparisons of factors to prioritize them using eigenvalues and generate strategic options for promoting disaster risk reduction infrastructure in the informal settlements of Giyani Local Municipality. In the TOWS results, the experts suggested integrating traditional authorities into the municipal development processes, implementing an environmental framework that includes disaster management policies and an integrated waste management plan, and developing innovative technological projects that provide up-to-date spatial planning data to provide disaster risk reducing infrastructure in informal areas. This study concludes that the provision of affordable housing, clean regular piped water, storm and sewer drainage systems, street lighting, accessible routes, solid waste collection, electricity, and healthcare services would reduce a range of disaster risks.

Disaster risks are becoming more prevalent in densely populated spaces such as informal settlements as a result of unplanned urbanisation. Several scholars ascribe this condition to inadequate awareness of spatial planning tools among informal settlers, as these influence where and how they construct their buildings for disaster risk reduction. This study aimed at assessing the awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 608 households that were selected using stratified sampling. The Relative Importance Index which was transformed into five importance levels was used to assess the awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. The study analysed the relationship between participant characteristics and awareness level using a t-test and an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The transformed relative importance index revealed that there is a moderate to low level of awareness of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. A t-test and an ANOVA revealed significant differences in awareness levels of spatial planning tools between the sub-groups based on gender, education and income levels. The females, low-income earners and less educated have a lower awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. The study recommends focusing on raising awareness of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction among the females, low-income earners and less educated to promote safe, healthy and liveable spaces in informal settlements.

Urbanization is rapidly transforming cities, especially in the Global South, with Sub-Saharan Africa expected to see the fastest growth in the next 30 years. In South Africa’s Mopani District, this urban expansion has led to the growth of informal settlements, increasing disaster risks related to water, health, and fire. This study focuses on Giyani Local Municipality, examining disaster risks in its informal settlements and the factors influencing the implementation of spatial planning tools. Using a SWOT analysis combined with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), the study found that while the municipality has strong land use and disaster management policies, poor enforcement, lack of integration, and weak governance limit their effectiveness. Opportunities for improvement include securing grants from the National Government and Disaster Management Centre to support disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives. However, challenges such as land shortages and ecological degradation threaten sustainable planning. The findings provide important insights for policymakers, urban planners, and disaster management professionals. The SWOT-AHP approach helps in prioritizing resource allocation, identifying risk trends, and focusing on key areas for mitigation. Overall, the study supports efforts to enhance resilience and promote sustainable urban development in informal settlements through better spatial planning.

One of the biggest challenges that developing countries are facing today is the management of development in flood-prone areas. Ethiopia is no exception, as it has suffered perennial floods in different parts of the country with devastating consequences. Floods in Dire Dawa are occurring more frequently than before and this is attributed to climate change, among other reasons. This study looks at guiding development in flood-prone areas in Dire Dawa. In this study, data were collected from selected kebeles (zones). Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used as data collection methods. Respondents were randomly selected from the communities for the administration of questionnaires. Analysis revealed that the return period of floods in Dire Dawa is getting shorter. The local authorities have come up with coping strategies, which are falling short of the expected outcome, with poor implementation being the major problem. The study concludes by recommending that the administration needs to identify and prioritise existing opportunities by implementing the already existing strategies. The city administration needs to establish a specific body for watershed management and flood protection responsible for carrying out research, early warnings, designs, pooling resources, implementing and managing interventions.

Informal settlements are disproportionately exposed to climate risks due to inadequate infrastructure, insecure tenure, environmental exposure, and exclusion from formal planning. Climate-resilient infrastructure (CRI) is essential for urban adaptation, but evidence about its enablement, implementation, and sustainability in informal settlements remains fragmented. This study conducts a PRISMA-guided systematic integrative review of English-language, peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 19 March 2026. Database searches in Scopus and Web of Science identified 1962 records. Of these, 40 studies met the final inclusion criteria. These studies were synthesised across five strategic domains: governance and institutional; community and social; financial and economic; technical and design; and knowledge, data, and digital. A rapid MMAT-based appraisal found the evidence base to be moderate to strong, though the included study designs were diverse. Technical and design responses predominate; however, their long-term effectiveness depends on governance coordination and community participation. In contrast, financial and economic strategies, as well as knowledge, data, and digital strategies, remain underdeveloped, revealing weaknesses in the enabling systems required for long-term sustainability. The evidence base is geographically uneven, with strong concentration in Sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, the review shows that CRI in informal settlements is best understood as a comprehensive process shaped by institutions, participation, and local conditions rather than as a purely technical intervention. The findings are limited by the focus on English-language, peer-reviewed studies and uneven regional coverage. However, they indicate that advancing CRI requires integrated strategies combining infrastructure design, institutional capacity, community agency, and long-term enabling systems.

Rapid urbanisation in the Global South has accelerated the expansion of informal settlements. This has increased exposure to water-, fire-, and health-related risks and undermined pathways toward sustainable urban development. Although such risks are often framed as environmental outcomes, growing evidence suggests that they are fundamentally shaped by spatial planning conditions. This study investigates the spatial planning drivers of disaster risks in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa. An exploratory mixed-methods design was adopted, combining data from 605 households and 87 key informants. Quantitative data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis and multinomial logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The results show that water-related risks were the most prevalent, affecting 50.7% of households, followed by health risks (26.3%) and fire risks (14.7%). Activity patterns emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of disaster risk outcomes. The findings demonstrate that disaster risk is systematically shaped by the spatial organisation of settlements, activity concentration, built-environment conditions, and institutional limitations. These dynamics have direct implications for urban sustainability. The study contributes to the literature by advancing a systems-based spatial planning perspective on disaster risk in informal settlements and by providing empirical evidence from South Africa on the persistent gap between the policy intentions of SPLUMA and its implementation. It further highlights that achieving sustainable and resilient cities requires a shift from reactive disaster management towards proactive, risk-sensitive spatial planning approaches that integrate informal settlements into formal planning systems.