The URiCCA project, conducted in collaboration with the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre by researchers from both Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town, aims to enhance decision-making on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It involves retrospective analysis of lessons from past disasters and developing and piloting an event surveillance methodology to systematically collect data on disasters and high-impact climate-related events. The project seeks to strengthen the evidence base for climate change adaptation in South Africa’s Western Cape province through nested research activities focusing on gathering lessons learned from severe weather events and developing and piloting a hazard event surveillance methodology. 

Study Site: 

Western Cape Province, South Africa.  

Main Research Questions: 

  • What types of severe weather and climate-related disasters have occurred in the Western Cape in the last ten years? 

  • What were the features and impacts of these events, and what lessons can be learned for reducing risk and strengthening response? 

  • Can we feasibly develop and implement an event surveillance system to monitor and document disasters in the Western Cape? 

Research Team: 

  • Dr. Robyn Pharoah (Principal Investigator) - Research Alliance for Disaster and Risk Reduction (RADAR), Stellenbosch University, South Africa 

  • Dr. Patricia Zweig - Lecturer, Stellenbosch University 

  • Ms. Lee-Ann Adonis - Master's Student, Stellenbosch University 

  • Dr. Phindile Sabela-Rikhotso - Lecturer, University of Cape Town 

  • Ms. Brittany McDonald - Junior Researcher, Stellenbosch University