Nature-based Solutions for transforming smallholder farming systems that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in South Africa

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is seeking funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to prepare a detailed project proposal titled "Ecosystem-based Approaches for transforming smallholder farming systems that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in South Africa". The preparatory phase, estimated to take 9 months, involves hiring a consultancy firm to conduct a series of ten technical studies and consultations. These activities include climate risk and vulnerability assessments, pre-feasibility studies, and gender analyses across four priority provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. The ultimate goal is to design a project that provides tailored climate information via a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and transforms farming systems using nature-based solutions to mitigate risks from floods, droughts, and veld fires.

• Smallholder farmers in South Africa face significant vulnerabilities due to rainfall variability and a lack of access to climate-risk informed agricultural advisory services, which are further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The proposed project intends to enhance farmer resilience in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo through three primary mechanisms: a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, the application of nature-based solutions to farming systems, and the institutional scaling of transformative adaptation approaches.
• The project preparation phase will include a comprehensive Climate Risk and Vulnerability (CRV) Assessment to identify historical trends (at least 30 years) and future modelling of hazards such as floods, drought, veld fires, and temperature increases.
• A significant stakeholder engagement process is planned, involving approximately 90 consultation sessions across national, provincial, district, and local levels, with a specific requirement for in-person engagements at the local level to ensure meaningful participation.
• The project preparation includes a dedicated Gender Assessment and Gender Action Plan to ensure the inclusion of women, female youth, and women with disabilities, as well as an assessment of pastoralists as Indigenous Peoples under GCF policy.

APA

Green Climate Fund (2023). Nature-based Solutions for transforming smallholder farming systems that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in South Africa. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/ppf065-sanbi-south-africa.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Nature-based Solutions for transforming smallholder farming systems that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in South Africa. 2023. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/ppf065-sanbi-south-africa.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Nature-based Solutions for transforming smallholder farming systems that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in South Africa |date=18 April 2023 |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/ppf065-sanbi-south-africa.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefund2023naturebased, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Nature-based Solutions for transforming smallholder farming systems that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in South Africa}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, year = {2023}, month = apr, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/ppf065-sanbi-south-africa.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }