AfDB Cites African Countries’ Integrated Climate Resilience Solutions in the Water Sector in CIF Global 2012 Annual Report

The African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) has laid out solutions some African countries are about to apply, with help from the AfDB and the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), to respond to complex problems that climate change is creating on their combined sectors of water, food and energy.

The article, part of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF’s) newly released 2012 Annual Report “Creating the Climate For Change” (https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/sites/climateinvestmentfunds.org/files/2012_Annual_Report.pdf), reflects Africa’s uniquely challenging circumstances in the water sector caused by climate change with repercussions in the agricultural and energy fields, and countries’ work to apply innovative solutions with AfDB and CIF support.

Claiming that “by 2020 up to 250 million people in Africa are projected to be exposed to increased water stress with disastrous effects on Africa’s most vulnerable,” the article cites examples of countries which are set to apply innovative integrated approaches to strengthening their water, agricultural and energy sectors. In particular, countries are going to focus on two areas of response with AfDB and CIF support: creating more reliable and accurate climate information, and building more durable, climate-resilient infrastructure across the sectors.

With AfDB and CIF support, Niger plans to improve its climate observatory system, research and optimize climate modeling, strengthen its early warning system, and expand communication on climate information to end-users. After seven episodes of disastrous drought, the country expects with these investment to boost food production and control the flow of fresh water to fields and pastures. Mozambique, on the other hand, plans to reinforce rural roads and rehabilitate irrigation and drainage systems to withstand weather extremes and sea water intrusions.

The AfDB is an implementing agency of the four-year-old US $7.6 billion CIF. “Creating the Climate for Change” (https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/sites/climateinvestmentfunds.org/files/2012_Annual_Report.pdf) showcases the evolution of the global CIF portfolio of investments for climate action in 49 developing countries, and spells out the shift into active implementation supported by the CIF and its implementing agencies throughout the developing world.

For further information on the CIF projects supported by the AfDB, visit “Financing Change: the AfDB and CIF for a Climate-Smart Africa” (http://bit.ly/XMe1gc).

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About the Climate Investment Funds (CIF)

Established in 2008 as one of the largest fast-tracked climate financing instruments in the world, the US $7.6 billion CIF provides developing countries with grants, concessional loans, risk mitigation instruments and equity that leverage significant financing from the private sector, multilateral development banks, (MDBs) and other sources. Five MDBs – the African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and World Bank Group (WBG) – implement CIF-funded projects and programs.