ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how collaborative planning influences urban flood risk management in China. Two community-level projects in Shenzhen, developed under the Sponge City Program, a national initiative for managing urban flooding, are examined as case studies. The two cases reflect different institutional environments for collaborative planning: One grounded in a collaborative, shared governance approach, the other in a more directive, government-led context. The cases show that collaborative planning for flood risk management in China remains largely characterized by government-led participation. However, collaborative planning is made possible through three key institutional arrangements. The first is recognizing interdependencies between formal and informal institutions, such as sharing flood responsibilities with communities while providing long-term institutional support. The second is appointing proactive place-based boundary spanners, such as the community committee, to mediate between authorities and citizen collectives. The third is developing tailor-made solutions beyond flooding. While these collaboration mechanisms seem to be universally applicable, the cases highlight the need for a contextual, area-specific shared governance approach for developing and scaling up on-the-ground flood strategies.
