Relating perceptions of flood risk and coping ability to mitigation behavior in West Africa: Case study of Burkina Faso

The recent increase of devastating floods in West Africa implies an urgent need for effective flood risk management. A key element of such management is understanding how perceptions affect the implementation of mitigation measures. This paper uses the technique of framework analysis in conjunction with the conceptual framework of protection motivation theory to interpret flood perceptions and mitigation actions of flood victims and public officials in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso as conveyed through in-depth semi-structured interviews. The results show that, despite the experience of a devastating flood in 2009 and clear understandings of flood causes, mitigation actions in Ouagadougou after the 2009 flood varied widely. This occurred due to adverse perceptions that mitigation actions are costly and that personal ability and responsibility to effect change is limited. These adverse perceptions offset neutral or positive perceptions that mitigation measures, if correctly implemented, are effective, and that the risk of flooding is high. The paper concludes with a comparative meta-analysis of West Africa flood perception and mitigation literature that reveals the need for actionable studies on the implementation of specific measures for flood risk management.