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This report, prepared by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), distils the findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report specifically for African decision-makers. It details the observed and projected climate changes across the continent, the resulting risks to food security, health, and economic growth, and the opportunities for adaptation and low-carbon development.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesizes the findings of the IPCC's SREX report specifically for African policymakers. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and disaster risk management (DRM), emphasizing that disaster risks in Africa are increasing due to both climate change and socio-economic factors such as rapid urbanization and poor governance. The document provides regional observations and projections for temperature and precipitation extremes across Africa and advocates for the integration of DRM and climate change adaptation into national development planning to build long-term resilience.

This research paper by Sives Govender examines the information requirements for climate change adaptation in Africa, categorizing needs into responsive, proactive, and robust policy frameworks. It highlights the critical role of early warning systems, satellite-based monitoring, and the integration of socio-economic data to mitigate vulnerabilities in water, food security, and coastal infrastructure.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines recommendations to improve the use of climate science for 'anticipatory adaptation' in Africa. It emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between climate scientists and decision-makers, enhance local technical capacity for downscaling climate models, and leverage existing regional networks and platforms to manage climate change risks.

This guide, written by Roy Bouwer of SouthSouthNorth, explains how to navigate the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Interactive Atlas, using African climate data as a primary example. It outlines a six-step process for selecting scales, datasets, variables, and socio-economic pathways to visualize climate projections and summarizes the expected temperature and rainfall trends for Africa.

This strategic framework, developed by the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP), provides a phased approach for African nations to integrate water security and climate resilience into their national development planning and investment decision-making processes.

This policy brief argues that integrating water security and climate resilience into development planning is essential for growth and poverty reduction, particularly in Africa. It advocates for prioritizing 'no/low regret' investments that provide returns regardless of the climate scenario, while calling for coordinated governance and diversified financing to mitigate the high economic costs of climate-driven disasters.

This briefing outlines the financial requirements and strategies for achieving water security and climate resilience in Africa. It estimates the significant annual costs involved and proposes a blended financing approach that combines traditional water finance, official development assistance, and specialized climate funds to bridge the current investment gap.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative and the Global Center on Adaptation analyzes the widening gap between adaptation finance needs and actual flows, with a specific focus on Africa. It highlights that current funding is insufficient, heavily reliant on debt, and concentrated in a few countries, while calling for standardized tracking and more ambitious public and private commitments to avoid massive economic losses.

The Africa Green Bond Toolkit is a practical guide developed by FSD Africa and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assist African capital markets in issuing green bonds according to international standards. It outlines the structural differences between green and vanilla bonds, provides a step-by-step issuance process, and details the requirements for creating a Green Bond Framework. The guide emphasizes the role of external verification and certification to ensure transparency and attract institutional investors to climate-resilient projects across the continent.

The 'Kit d’Outils d’Obligations Verte Afrique' is a practical guide developed by FSD Africa and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assist African issuers in emitting green bonds. It outlines the structural similarities between green and conventional bonds, while detailing the specific requirements for the allocation of proceeds to environmental projects. The guide provides a comprehensive framework for the issuance process, including the development of a Green Bond Framework, independent verification, and post-issuance reporting, while highlighting successful case studies from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.

This briefing by GreenCape provides guidance for funders—including independent power producers, donors, and philanthropists—on implementing locally-led Just Transition community projects in Africa. It emphasizes the necessity of using trusted intermediary organisations to bridge the gap between funders and local communities, moving away from top-down models toward a continuum of empowerment that culminates in local leadership and ownership.

This report documents a three-day workshop held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 14 to 16 October 2013, focused on developing conflict-sensitivity guidelines for climate change adaptation (CCA) policy in Africa. The event, convened by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the Wilson Center, IRG/Engility, and ICF International, aimed to build a community of practice at the nexus of climate change, conflict, and development. The workshop explored the application of 'Do No Harm' (DNH) principles and USAID's Climate Change and Conflict Annex to ensure that adaptation efforts do not inadvertently exacerbate social tensions but instead serve as platforms for peacebuilding.

This research paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate finance, specifically focusing on African perspectives and the implications for the COP26 negotiations in Glasgow. It analyzes the tension between pandemic-driven economic stimulus and climate goals, the persistent gap in adaptation finance, and the challenges of defining 'climate finance' to ensure accountability for the $100 billion annual pledge made by developed countries.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines how mining projects in Africa can better contribute to sustainable development through strategic partnerships. It argues that mining-led growth is often hindered by a lack of cooperation between companies, governments, and NGOs, as well as a lack of long-term planning and regulatory capacity. The document advocates for the use of 'good practice' Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and the creation of shared infrastructure to maximize local economic and social benefits.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) introduces two new indices—the Climate Change and Economic Vulnerability Index (CEVI) and the Climate Change and Economic Resilience Index (CERI)—to provide a quantitative basis for the allocation of climate finance. The author argues that current climate finance, particularly OECD adaptation funding, is misaligned with the actual vulnerability and resilience of recipient countries, often favoring middle-income nations over the most vulnerable low-income economies, particularly in Africa.

This policy note, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in October 2025, advocates for a shift from incremental to transformational climate adaptation in Africa. It outlines the conceptual differences between these approaches, identifies systemic barriers to implementation across the continent, and provides strategic recommendations for South Africa's G20 presidency to champion scalable, just, and context-specific adaptation frameworks.

This research paper examines the inclusion of women in the renewable energy (RE) value chains of Rwanda and South Africa. It identifies systemic barriers—including limited access to STEM education, a lack of gender-responsive financing, and a disconnect between policy and implementation—that prevent women from moving beyond passive roles as energy consumers into technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial positions. The document provides a three-tier gender mainstreaming toolkit to help policymakers, donors, and the private sector foster a more inclusive energy sector in Africa.

This fact sheet provides frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the Raising Adaptation Impact and Ambition (RAIA) research grant, which funds economic research on climate change adaptation in Africa. The grant targets national-level research to help integrate economic evidence into national policy, regulatory, and fiscal frameworks.

This WRI and WCCI working paper identifies seven enabling factors to integrate gender equity into locally led adaptation (LLA) processes, specifically within Africa's agricultural sector. It argues for a shift toward gender-transformative activities that challenge harmful social norms and power dynamics to ensure long-term climate resilience and gender equality.