The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Bank have published a report exploring the challenges involved in implementing nature-based solutions to climate challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The report, Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa, which also welcomed contributions from the African Development Bank (AfDB), examines close to 300 projects undertaken over the past decade.
Nature-based solutions
It found that there has been a steady increase of nature-based solutions, or NBS, projects over the past year, with the number of new projects increasing by an average of 15% annually between 2012 and 2021.
These projects involve the conservation and restoration of forests, wetlands, floodplains, and coral reefs, often alongside traditional infrastructure, to enhance climate resilience, as well as bolster job creation, biodiversity conservation, and social equity.
At the same time, while interest in NBS is growing, more investment is needed – while the the 23% increase in funding in NBS projects in Sub-Saharan Africa is welcome, it ‘pales in comparison’ to Africa’s $100 billion annual infrastructure financing gap, the WRI said.
‘Inherently linked’
“Nature loss and climate risks are inherently linked, especially here in Africa,” commented Qimiao Fan, World Bank’s country director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda.
“We need to ensure that projects and policies comprehensively address the challenges and offer inclusive and effective solutions for the most vulnerable groups.”
Green-Gray Infrastructure Accelerator
To complement the investment preparation efforts being undertaken by the World Bank and AfDB, the World Resources Institute is launching the Green-Gray Infrastructure Accelerator, an initiative to support 11 cities across sub-Saharan Africa.
“We often think of infrastructure in terms of roads, bridges and buildings — just concrete and steel structures,” said Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO, World Resources Institute.
“But nature — forests, trees, wetlands, coral reefs — is just as vital. It supplies clean water, protects communities from disasters, and strengthens resilience. Across Africa, cities and communities are proving that green and gray infrastructure can work together to maximise benefits for people, nature and climate — and the world should take note.”
The Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa report was developed by WRI’s Cities4Forests initiative and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) at the World Bank, with contributions from the AfDB. Support was provided by the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the MAVA Foundation, GFDRR, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Danish International Development Agency. Read more here.
