Africa is at the epicentre of the climate crisis. By 2030, over 118 million extremely poor people in Africa will be exposed to climate shocks particularly floods, droughts, and desertification if urgent adaptive action isn’t taken. These climate extremes are already devastating crops, displacing communities, and damaging infrastructure, highlighting the need to build resilient, adaptive infrastructure across the continent.
Water Security Infrastructure: A Foundation for Resilience
Water security infrastructure is a top priority. In Kenya, recurring droughts have decimated millions of livestock, threatening pastoral livelihoods. According to the World Bank 70% of the country’s natural disasters can be attributed to climate change. In response, the World Bank’s Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project has supported solar-powered boreholes, micro-irrigation systems, and early warning tools to safeguard food and water systems. In Rwanda and Ethiopia, rainwater harvesting and watershed management initiatives have improved year-round access to safe water and protected critical ecosystems.
Climate-Smart Agriculture: Feeding the Future
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is another transformative solution. In Niger, Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) has restored over 5 million hectares of land, enhanced soil fertility, and strengthened resilience for over 2.5 million people. In Malawi, CSA practices such as drought-resistant seeds and conservation agriculture are boosting crop yields by up to 37%, even during dry seasons.
Scaling Resilience Through Regional Programmes
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is scaling up climate resilience through its Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC). This transformative initiative targets over 130 million people across nine countries including Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon with strategic investments in irrigation systems, reforestation, flood control infrastructure, and climate information services. PIDACC also supports gender-sensitive training, sustainable land and water management, and the development of climate-resilient value chains for farmers and small businesses. By integrating ecosystem restoration with economic development, the programme aims to boost food security, reduce migration pressures, and protect livelihoods in one of Africa’s most climate-vulnerable river basins.
The Great Green Wall: Restoring Land, Creating Jobs
The African Union, through its Great Green Wall initiative, is collaborating with member states to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon, and create 10 million green jobs by 2030. These jobs span across sectors such as sustainable agriculture, forestry, land rehabilitation, and eco-tourism. This initiative not only combats desertification but also enables communities to build sustainable and dignified livelihoods while strengthening climate resilience across the Sahel region and beyond.
Partnering for Resilience: Global Support in Action
Development partners such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), UKAID, GIZ, and the UNDP are also supporting the development of early warning systems, weather-indexed insurance, and nature-based infrastructure from mangrove restoration in Mozambique to climate-resilient road design in Zambia.
To truly adapt, Africa must scale up inclusive, locally led infrastructure solutions supported by regional cooperation, climate finance, and community innovation. The goal must go beyond survival towards an Africa that thrives under climate pressure.
