The GiFluid initiative, financed through the Interreg Italia-Malta Programme, represents a transnational collaborative effort to enhance urban water management through nature-based infrastructures. As part of this cooperation, the Rabat Local Council has secured €1 million for the implementation of a community-based project to enhance water use efficiency and urban resilience.
This investment will transform St Dominic’s Square into a multifunctional public space designed to integrate rainwater harvesting infrastructure, thereby enabling the collection and retention of stormwater and contributing to local flood risk mitigation. Concurrently, the project supports the development of green urban infrastructure, including the establishment of a demonstrative green roof at the National Water Conservation Centre in Rabat, which augments prior educational functions of the Centre and extends its role as a public space for families, visitors and academic observation.
The integration of green roofs and other green urban infrastructures exemplifies evidence-based strategies to mitigate the increasing hydrological challenges posed by climate change and urbanization in Mediterranean contexts. Stakeholders such as the University of Catania, the Energy and Water Agency, the Regional Council of Sicily and Aci Castello have contributed to this multifaceted endeavour, which also seeks to inform policy and practice on sustainable water management across institutional scales. This initiative aligns with broader objectives of enhancing flood resilience, promoting sustainable development, and fostering intersectoral collaboration for future-oriented environmental governance.
