The African Development Bank Group has approved over $31 million in funding under its African Climate Action Window (CAW) to enhance climate resilience in Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Madagascar.
The CAW, part of the Bank Group’s African Development Fund, aims to mobilize $4 billion by 2025 to provide rapid and coordinated access to climate finance. This initiative prioritizes support for the most vulnerable countries, including fragile states and conflict-affected regions, by focusing on co-financing opportunities.
The latest funding will support 41 pioneering climate adaptation projects, selected through the CAW’s first call for project proposals. These projects encompass a wide range of initiatives, including enhancing water security, improving food security, promoting youth-led entrepreneurship, and conserving biodiversity. Notably, these projects will leverage $28.13 million in climate co-financing from sources such as the Green Climate Fund.
In Sierra Leone, the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project will receive $5 million to improve access to clean water and sanitation while enhancing disaster preparedness. In South Sudan, the Climate Resilient Agri-Food Systems Transformation Programme will receive $9.4 million to expand climate-adaptive technologies, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen food and nutritional security.
In Djibouti, the Youth Entrepreneurship for Climate Change Adaptation Project will receive $7.5 million to strengthen climate resilience in horticulture and pastoral farming. This initiative aims to create 3,500 jobs, with a significant focus on youth and women.
In Madagascar, the Climate Resilience through Park Biodiversity Preservation Project has been granted $9.4 million to protect and restore critical national parks. This project is expected to sequester 10 million tonnes of CO2 while creating 1,500 green jobs.
Dr. Kevin Kariuki, African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate Change, and Green Growth, emphasized the transformative nature of these investments. “The Climate Action Window is catalyzing transformative solutions in Africa’s most climate-vulnerable regions,” Dr. Kariuki stated. “From strengthening water security in Sierra Leone to advancing youth-led agribusiness in Djibouti and restoring biodiversity in Madagascar, these initiatives go beyond adaptation – they drive prosperity.”
Prof. Anthony Nyong, the Bank’s Director for Climate Change and Green Growth, highlighted the critical importance of adaptation finance. “These initiatives are not just about responding to climate change; they empower communities to take control of their own futures,” Prof. Nyong noted. “The Climate Action Window is more than just a funding mechanism—it is a lifeline for communities facing the harsh realities of climate change every day.”
This news release emphasizes the significance of the African Development Bank’s Climate Action Window and highlights the positive impact of these investments on communities across the continent.
