In 2023 PEP worked conducted a studio with ACC students focused on flooding mitigation in NN and Masikhule informal settlements. The students were tasked with mapping flooding in each settlement, collecting local knowledge and ideas as to how it could be mitigated and proposing practical solutions that could be implemented. Their project outputs are available here.

Based on the studio ideas, PEP attempted to implement a French drain system in NN informal settlement. Unfortunately, the team was held up at gunpoint on the site and the work was abandoned. The PEP team aims to revisit this work in the coming months once we have found a manner to implement that does not endanger staff. It has also given the team an opportunity to make technical consultations with more stakeholders to refine our approach.