A Systematic Review of Digital Strategies for Equitable Climate Adaptation in Southern African Cities

Abstract

This research examines digital technologies adoption for equitable climate preparedness in Southern African Development Community (SADC) cities. In this review, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was applied to 23 studies in 11 SADC cities to study smart city technologies (SCTs) as tools of equitable climate adaptation. Results found Internet of Things (IoT) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as key smart city tools in SADC cities, aiding equitable water systems and flood assessment respectively. However, most interventions remained limited to short-term absorptive resilience strategies, largely due to systemic barriers such as fragmented governance, financial constraints and limited community engagement, undermining long-term effectiveness and equity. The findings further revealed that participatory approaches, such as community-led GIS mapping, tended to produce more inclusive and context sensitive outcomes, while top-down deployments often excluded low-income populations. The study identifies four strategic priorities that can strengthen SCT-led climate adaptation. These are, governance reform, innovative financing, community participation and capacity building. These priority areas can be utilised to turn SCT interventions from the current disjointed and mostly donor-dependent initiatives towards more effective and equitable climate adaptation responses. This review advances SADC urban smart technology discourse, supporting equitable climate adaptation planning.