How Sub-Saharan African Cities are Building Climate Resilience

The SUNCASA project has implemented nature-based solutions (NbS) across three Sub-Saharan African cities, planting 2.4 million trees and shrubs and restoring over 3,500 hectares of land within its first two years. In Dire Dawa, the project focuses on afforestation and agroforestry to combat soil erosion and improve food security. In Kigali, efforts center on riparian buffer zones and agroforestry to reduce flood risks. Johannesburg's primary focus is the removal of alien invasive species to protect water quality and biodiversity. The project integrates gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) to ensure marginalized groups participate in climate adaptation. Cost-benefit analyses indicate significant future savings in flood-related infrastructure and health expenses across all three cities.

• In its first two years, the SUNCASA project achieved 85% of its three-year targets, planting 2.4 million trees and shrubs and restoring over 3,700 hectares of degraded watershed.
• In Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, the project has restored 246 hectares of land along the Dechatu River catchment and achieved 93% of its agroforestry target with nearly 380,000 trees planted. Economic projections suggest the city will save USD 1.35 million in flood-related repairs and USD 930,000 in health expenses by 2050.
• In Kigali, Rwanda, the project surpassed its agroforestry target by over 450 hectares and restored 92% of the targeted riparian buffer zone area (362 hectares). The investment is projected to return USD 2.09 in benefits for every USD 1 invested, with USD 12 million in avoided flood-related infrastructure damages by 2050.
• In Johannesburg, South Africa, the project reached 99% of its three-year target for riparian corridor revitalization, removing 532 tonnes of debris and replacing invasive species with nearly 28,000 indigenous and fruit trees. By 2050, the city is expected to save USD 4.83 million in health expenses and USD 3.5 million in flood-related repairs.
• The project's Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) initiatives led to an 82% increase in participants' knowledge of GESI issues, exceeding the 50% target. This was supported by three major workshops reaching 1,247 participants.

APA

Arrais,, C. H. (2026). How Sub-Saharan African Cities are Building Climate Resilience. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/how-sub-saharan-african-cities-building-climate-resilience

Chicago

Arrais,, Cesar Henrique. How Sub-Saharan African Cities are Building Climate Resilience. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/how-sub-saharan-african-cities-building-climate-resilience.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Arrais, |first1=Cesar Henrique |title=How Sub-Saharan African Cities are Building Climate Resilience |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=10 April 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/how-sub-saharan-african-cities-building-climate-resilience |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{arrais2026how, author = {Arrais,, Cesar Henrique}, title = {{How Sub-Saharan African Cities are Building Climate Resilience}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/how-sub-saharan-african-cities-building-climate-resilience}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }