The report says nature-based solution projects in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 23% annually and raised more than $12 billion.
A new report has
detailed how countries in Africa including Uganda are turning is turning to
nature to combat mounting risks of flooding, drought, and extreme heat.
The reports entitled
“
Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of
Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa”
analyzes nearly 300 projects over the past decade to identify what works, key
barriers, and strategies to scale up nature-based solutions (NBS) to promote
green, resilient development.
It is the work of
the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Bank, with contributions from
the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The report shows a steady increase in the adoption of up nature-based solutions
(NBS) projects, with the number of new projects initiated growing by an average
of 15% annually between 2012 and 2021.
These projects —
which include protecting and restoring forests, wetlands, floodplains and coral
reefs, often in combination with traditional “gray” infrastructure — are
strengthening climate resilience while actively delivering co-benefits like job
creation, biodiversity enhancement and social equity.
While interest in nature-based solutions is growing, the report finds that more
investment is needed.
Between 2012 and
2021, funding for nature-based solutions projects in Sub-Saharan Africa
increased by 23% annually and raised more than $12 billion. While this is a
positive step, the figure pales in comparison to Africa’s
$100 billion annual infrastructure financing gap.
Qimiao
Fan
, the World
Bank’s Country Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda said nature loss
and climate risks are inherently linked, especially here in Africa.
“We need to ensure that projects and policies
comprehensively address the challenges and offer inclusive and effective
solutions for the most vulnerable groups.” Said Fan.
As climate risks like extreme heat, flooding and water scarcity intensify,
Sub-Saharan Africa stands at the frontlines of the global climate crisis, with
Kenya's
floods and
unprecedented heatwaves across the region a stark
warning.
The report highlights several recommendations to increase adoption nature-based
solutions in the region.
These include
integrating nature into policies and plans, building technical capacity to
develop project pipelines, and diversifying finance.
It is being noted that while nature-based solutions projects are growing, a
critical gap remains: relatively few projects were implemented in cities,
despite their potential to address urban challenges (though the World Bank and
AfDB have recently been supporting more urban projects).
Seventy percent of
African cities face severe climate risks — including flooding, extreme heat and
mudslides — while many already struggle with inadequate infrastructure.
Additional
investment in traditional solutions like dams and engineered drainage is
needed, but integrating natural infrastructure, such as restoring and protecting
forests in watersheds, can bolster resilience and reduce long-term costs.
Recognizing this, and to complement NBS investment preparation efforts of the
World Bank and AfDB, WRI is launching the Green-Gray Infrastructure
Accelerator, an initiative to support 11 cities across sub-Saharan Africa to
integrate NBS with traditional “gray” infrastructure.
The initiative will
provide technical, policy and finance support, helping them lay the groundwork
for their initial cohort of projects, while connecting others to financiers to
scale existing efforts.
President &
CEO, World Resources Institute, Ani Dasgupta said while focus has
been placed on infrastructure in terms of roads, bridges and
buildings, 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 maximize benefits for people, nature and climate — and the
world should take note.” Said Dasgupta
