Growing resilience

The report examines how nature-based solutions (NBS) can address climate risks and development pressures in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The region faces increasing exposure to droughts, floods, coastal erosion, and extreme heat, alongside rapid urbanisation, infrastructure gaps, high debt burdens, and widespread fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV). NBS are positioned as complementary or alternative approaches to traditional grey infrastructure, delivering climate resilience while supporting biodiversity and livelihoods.

Nature-based solutions for climate resilience

NBS are defined as actions that protect, manage, or restore ecosystems to address societal challenges while providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. In SSA, NBS are relevant to water security, flood and drought management, coastal protection, agriculture, and urban resilience. The report highlights green projects (standalone ecosystem restoration), green–grey projects (hybrid approaches integrating natural and engineered infrastructure), and small-scale community-led initiatives as the main project types.

Intersecting challenges of nature loss, climate risk, and development needs

SSA is among the most climate-vulnerable regions globally. Drought risk is severe, with seven of the ten countries with the highest global drought risk located in Africa. Droughts over the past five decades have caused economic losses exceeding USD 70 billion, with 95% of agriculture being rainfed. Flood risk is also significant: several countries face very high exposure to riverine or coastal flooding, with over 500,000 people exposed to a 100-year coastal flood event in countries such as Benin, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and Somalia. These risks are compounded by poverty, urban growth in high-risk areas, and limited adaptive capacity.

Status and trends in NBS for climate resilience in SSA

The analysis identifies 297 NBS projects initiated between 2012 and 2023. Project initiation and funding have increased over the past decade, driven largely by multilateral development banks, multilateral donors, governments, and NGOs. Concessional loans were used in about 25% of projects but accounted for over 70% of total funding, particularly for large green–grey projects. Grants dominate smaller and purely green projects. Market-rate loans, private equity, and carbon credits remain limited but demonstrate emerging diversification. Project developers vary by scale: national and international NGOs lead most small-scale projects, while governments and infrastructure operators are more prominent in large projects. Investment is lower in FCV countries, where projects are more often small-scale and reliant on grants or government and in-kind contributions.

Social equity considerations

Social inclusion is unevenly integrated. Gender equity is referenced in around 68% of projects from 2012–21, rising to nearly all recent World Bank and African Development Bank projects due to formal requirements. In contrast, Indigenous and traditional knowledge is cited in only 13% of earlier projects and 24% of recent ones. The report notes the need for clearer metrics, stronger safeguards, and more consistent reporting to ensure equitable outcomes and community trust.

Funding and financing strategies for scaling up NBS investments

Public and concessional finance remains foundational, but current funding levels are insufficient relative to adaptation needs. The report highlights opportunities to expand financing through green and blue bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, payments for ecosystem services, carbon credits, and risk-mitigation instruments such as guarantees and insurance. Diversifying domestic revenue sources, including fees, taxes, and utility contributions, is identified as critical for long-term operations and maintenance.

Challenges to and strategies for advancing NBS in SSA

Key barriers include weak policy incentives, preference for grey infrastructure, limited institutional coordination, technical capacity gaps, insufficient local data, and social challenges such as land tenure insecurity. Suggested strategies include integrating NBS into national adaptation plans, infrastructure standards, and sectoral policies; investing in technical training and data systems; strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and learning; and ensuring early and sustained community engagement.

Conclusion and next steps

The report concludes that NBS are essential for climate-resilient development in SSA but remain underutilised. Scaling impact will require mainstreaming NBS across policies, expanding and diversifying finance, building local capacity, and prioritising social equity and Indigenous knowledge. With targeted action, NBS can reduce disaster risk, protect natural assets, and support sustainable growth.