Urban CAC Living Lab: community-led climate resilience and river-based adaptation in informal settlements of Yangon

This project is carried by “Doh Eain Limited”. A community-led Living Lab that connects vulnerable urban communities to water systems through climate adaptation. This initiative builds climate resilience in informal settlements in Yangon, Myanmar by addressing the critical relationship between communities and water systems. Located in low-lying, flood-prone areas along urban drainage systems and in close proximity to the Bago River and Pazundaung Creek, these neighbourhoods face recurrent flooding, water pollution and limited access to basic services. Through a community-based approach called “Urban Living Lab”, the project combines nature-based and hybrid solutions with participatory processes. Residents, local organisations and technical partners collectively assess risks, co-design interventions, test solutions and build long-term maintenance systems. Implemented between May 2025 and February 2026 in two informal settlements (North Dagon and Dagon Seikkan), the initiative implemented integrated interventions including drainage restoration, improved permeable access, basin rehabilitation, waste interception systems and the creation of green spaces. The project achieves significant results, including a reduction of reported flooding from 22-26% to 0% in target areas, improved mobility and public health conditions, as well as strengthened community ownership. Beyond site-specific impacts, the initiative builds on and mobilises existing local networks of community organisations, enabling knowledge sharing, capacity building and supporting replication of the approach in other vulnerable urban contexts.