Canada commits funding to support nature-based solutions in African cities
Kigali City goes clean and Green
In a recent announcement, Global Affairs Canada has committed funding to support nature-based solutions in three African cities—Dire Dawa in Ethiopia, Kigali in Rwanda, and Johannesburg in South Africa. The funding will help these cities increase their climate resilience through watershed restoration and flood protection projects.
The mayors of the three cities have expressed their gratitude for the support, emphasizing the importance of nature-based solutions in addressing climate change-related disasters such as floods.
READ ALSO: Kigali Embarks on Groundbreaking SUNCASA Project to Combat Climate Hazards
H.E. Kedir Juhar, Mayor of Dire Dawa, stated that the funding will help boost water security not only in his city but also in neighboring areas.
Lord Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva of Kigali highlighted the alignment of the funding with the city’s green development goals, while Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda of Johannesburg emphasized the critical role of nature-based solutions in the city’s Water Security Strategy.
Canada’s Minister of International Development, Honourable Ahmed Hussen, expressed pride in partnering with organizations like the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to support climate change adaptation in African cities.
Patricia Fuller, CEO and President of IISD, noted the importance of scaling up nature-based solutions to fulfill their potential and highlighted the organization’s commitment to working with local partners to implement the projects.
Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of the World Resources Institute, emphasized the need to harness the power of nature to address climate risks in rapidly growing African cities.
He praised Canada’s Partnering for Climate Initiative for streamlining the process of mobilizing political support, delivering technical assistance, and unlocking finance to scale up nature-based solutions in vulnerable communities.
The SUNCASA project, led by IISD and WRI, aims to implement nature-based solutions in the three African cities to enhance climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and livelihoods.
With Canada’s support, these cities are poised to make significant progress in addressing climate change impacts and building a more sustainable future for their residents.
