In São Tomé and Príncipe, coastal roads are vital for mobility and play a central role in supporting local jobs and economic activity. Every day, about 60 percent of residents depend on the island’s two key coastal roads—the EN1 and Lagarto Bay Road—to access markets, schools, hospitals, fishing areas, and tourism jobs. Yet these roads have sections that sit just 1.5 to 2 meters above sea level, lack sidewalks, and flood frequently.
When flooding or erosion cuts access, entire communities can lose income overnight. In a country where most economic activity sits along the shoreline, keeping these roads open is key to driving economic growth and unlocking job opportunities.
“The EN1 connects industrial, agricultural, and fishing areas to tourism complexes. Its collapse would paralyze the economy, preventing the transport of agricultural products and access to hotels and fuel,” said Adelino Cardoso, Executive Director of the Instituto Nacional de Estradas (National Roads Institute).
To address these challenges, the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe—supported by the World Bank Group and a US$12.8 million Global Environment Facility grant facilitated through NBS Invest—is implementing the Second Sao Tome and Principe Transport Sector Development and Resilience Project. The project will rehabilitate 16 kilometers of vulnerable coastal roads while integrating nature-based and gender-sensitive approaches into transport planning and policy.
Nature-Based Solutions: Investments in Resilient Foundational Infrastructure
Nature-based solutions (NBS) harness the power of ecosystems to protect critical infrastructure, mitigate climate risks, and enhance biodiversity, often at a lower cost and with more lasting benefits than conventional engineering approaches.
“Traditional concrete walls were repeatedly failing under wave pressure, expensive to repair, and sometimes worsening erosion elsewhere,” explained Cardoso.
Studies funded with support from NBS Invest and other partners identified hybrid solutions to reduce vulnerability to flooding, erosion, and landslides along the EN1 and Lagarto Bay Road.
The proposed measures combine engineering with ecological design. Vegetation planting and bio-engineered slopes stabilizes flood-prone areas, while integrated watershed management upstream reduces runoff. Other NBS include retention basins and vegetation to slow water flow and trap sediment, preventing landslides, and improving filtration.
These measures are highly cost-effective, too: once vegetation takes root, long-term maintenance is minimal, while addressing the primary causes of downstream flooding and erosion. For the National Roads Institute, NBS are the practical choice.
Safe Roads, Secure Livelihoods
The project assesses how climate risks—particularly road flooding—affect the safety and mobility of communities, especially women and girls.
“Many communities along the EN1 depend on it for access to schools, hospitals, markets and government services. Its disruption isolates these communities,” notes Cardoso. “A road that is passable in all weather conditions means that children can attend school consistently. Safety along the route is also improved with better drainage, protective barriers, and special interventions to ensure their safety.”
Using geospatial assessments, the project identifies where flooding most effects pedestrians and targets these areas with lighting, signage, and traffic‑calming measures.
Safer walking routes also support employment. Women, in particular, rely on the EN1 to reach local markets where they sell agricultural products. “Resilient connectivity ensures their income,” Cardoso added.
Nature-based approaches create even more opportunities for local work. A cornerstone of road resilience in São Tomé and Príncipe is the country’s community‑based road maintenance system. Known as Grupos de Interesse para a Manutenção de Estradas (“Interest Groups for Road Maintenance”; GIMEs), these groups employ around 1,350 workers, providing income to more than 7,000 family members.
By supporting vegetation management, drainage clearing, and slope protection, GIMEs help keep roads open during the rainy season and reduce lifecycle costs. Women make up half of the GIME workforce, and expanding nature-based approaches opens new technical jobs and leadership pathways.
“Local communities can be excellent guardians of NBS when they understand its value. Their knowledge of tides, winds, and plant species is an invaluable asset,” says Cardoso.
Looking Ahead: Securing a Resilient Future through Nature-Based Investment
As São Tomé and Príncipe strengthens its road network with more resilient, nature-based and hybrid solutions, the benefits extend far beyond the infrastructure itself. A more reliable road network means people can reach jobs, schools, essential services, and hospitals without disruption—making daily life easier across the island.
Positive impacts are expected to become quickly visible: rebuilt sections of the road will recover more quickly from heavy rains, and communities will be more involved in road management. National engineers and technicians will gain expertise in climate resilience and NBS, strengthening the country’s long-term capacity.
São Tomé and Príncipe’s experience gleans replicable best practices for other countries. “We hope this project serves as a pilot for other countries,” said Cardoso. “It demonstrates that investing in climate-resilient infrastructure now saves costly emergency reconstruction in the future.”
read more: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/05/22/-in-sao-tome-and-principe-nature-based-solutions-underpin-roads-jobs-and-the-economy
