Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is already contending with the impacts of climate change, with severe flooding, extreme heat, and historic droughts affecting the region. In response, communities across the region are increasingly using nature-based solutions like restoring and protecting forests, floodplains, wetlands, and coral reefs to build climate resilience. Nature-based solutions can also be used in combination with traditional “gray” infrastructure (known as green-gray infrastructure), which often increase their resilience and cost-effectiveness. When done right, these projects can provide multiple benefits beyond protecting people from climate shocks, like enhanced biodiversity or improved socio-economic outcomes. They can provide jobs and livelihoods, advance gender and social equity, and support economic growth.

This report explores the current landscape of NBS across the region. Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa surveys nearly 300 projects from 2012 to 2023, painting a picture of how nature-based solutions are being deployed for climate resilience and what actions can be taken to fill existing gaps.