EXPOSURE:

Highly exposed to climate, urban, and biodiversity risks. The Old Town of Debre Birhan is increasingly exposed to climate-related hazards such as extreme heat, flash flooding, and prolonged droughts. The urban heat island effect, amplified by dense settlement patterns and limited vegetation, exacerbates thermal stress. At the same time, intense rainfall events result in flash flooding, particularly in the absence of drainage infrastructure. Seasonal variability and rising temperatures also contribute to longer, more severe drought periods.

PEOPLE:

High vulnerability among residents due to socioeconomic marginalisation, informal settlements, and exposure to climate risks. The Old Town hosts urban poor households living in informal conditions with limited access to safe housing in slum areas. Residents are exposed to flash flooding, rising temperatures, and extreme rainfall, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly. Livelihoods based on informal trade and daily labour are highly sensitive to climate and economic shocks, while limited access to emergency services and financial resources constrains their ability to cope and recover.

SENSITIVITY:

Highly sensitive to climate, urban, and biodiversity risks and stressors. The sensitivity of urban poor populations in dense informal settlements, where intersecting vulnerabilities—such as gender, age, and disability—are compounded by precarious living conditions in areas most at risk of adverse climate impacts. Many residents rely on climate-sensitive livelihoods, including small-scale trade and peri-urban agriculture, making them particularly vulnerable to climate shocks. Food security is further threatened by disruptions to local agricultural systems. Degraded and fragmented ecosystems and habitats also leave local biodiversity highly susceptible to environmental change.

ECOSYSTEMS:

High ecosystem vulnerability due to degraded natural systems, unregulated urban expansion, and limited ecological resilience. Sparse vegetation, minimal green spaces, and heavily degraded natural resources have left the area with almost no ecosystem services that could help buffer against climate impacts. Unplanned urban growth and informal settlement expansion have encroached on remaining open spaces, further disrupting ecological balance. These pressures heighten the area's vulnerability to both flooding and drought, with few natural systems left to absorb excess water or retain moisture during dry periods.

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY:

Limited adaptive capacity to climate, urban and biodiversity vulnerabilities. Limited adaptive capacity due to constrained financial resources, weak social safety nets, and the near absence of preparedness or emergency response systems. Ecosystem-based resilience is almost non-existent due to the lack of green infrastructure and degraded environmental conditions. Poor urban planning, low public awareness, and weak environmental governance hinder the ability of institutions, sectors, and communities to anticipate, plan for, or recover from climate and environmental stressors.

INFRASTRUCTURE:

Severe infrastructure vulnerability due to informal expansion, unregulated urban growth, and overstretched basic services. Rapid rural-urban migration and informal settlement growth have intensified pressure on already inadequate infrastructure. The absence of drainage systems and flood mitigation infrastructure leaves the area highly exposed to flash flooding and water accumulation. Housing is often built with poor-quality materials and lacks structural resilience, while roads, water supply, and waste systems are insufficient and deteriorating, amplifying risks under extreme weather conditions.