Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for Disaster Risk Preparedness in Africa

The document examines the role of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Eco-DRR in enhancing disaster risk preparedness across Africa. It highlights that while Africa is highly vulnerable to climate hazards, government capacity and financing for disaster risk reduction (DRR) are severely lacking. The author proposes three primary opportunities for improvement: aligning climate, biodiversity, and disaster risk policies; developing blended and scalable financing solutions; and empowering local communities through natural resource management models. Practical examples from Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Malawi demonstrate how nature-based solutions, such as mangrove and bamboo restoration, can mitigate disasters while supporting livelihoods.

• Africa faces extreme vulnerability to climate change, with 35% of climate-related fatalities occurring in the region between 1970 and 2021, and only 40% of the population having access to early warning systems.
• Eco-DRR is presented as a cost-effective alternative to hard engineering solutions that can reduce vulnerability to climate disasters by managing and conserving ecosystems, which otherwise act as drivers of risk when degraded.
• Effective Eco-DRR implementation requires the alignment of climate, biodiversity, and disaster risk policies at both national and subnational levels to increase coherence and efficiency. Kenya is cited as a successful example of aligning national frameworks under the Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework, and 2030 Agenda.
• There is a critical need for blended and innovative financing for DRR in Africa, as the Loss and Damage Fund's commitments at COP28 covered only 0.2% of irreversible losses in developing countries. Potential solutions include carbon credits from mangrove restoration, such as Kenya's Mikoko Pamoja project, and Forecast-based Financing (FbF) used by the World Food Programme in East Africa.
• Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) models are more effective than top-down approaches, which often face resistance due to restrictions on land tenure. Examples include Madagascar's locally managed marine areas (LMMA) and the Sustainable Management of Indigenous Forest Project in Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique.

APA

SACK, H. (2024). Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for Disaster Risk Preparedness in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_152_EbAforDRR.pdf

Chicago

SACK, HANNAH. Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for Disaster Risk Preparedness in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2024. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_152_EbAforDRR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SACK |first1=HANNAH |title=Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for Disaster Risk Preparedness in Africa |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=June 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_152_EbAforDRR.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sack2024ecosystembased, author = {SACK, HANNAH}, title = {{Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for Disaster Risk Preparedness in Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAIIA_PI_152_EbAforDRR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }