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The document describes Ethiopia as a landlocked, low-income country in the Horn of Africa characterized by diverse topography and a complex ethnic federal system. It details the country's climatic patterns, including three annual rainfall seasons and projected temperature increases by 2030. The text also outlines Ethiopia's historical role in Pan-Africanism and its current political instability, marked by conflicts with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Oromo Liberation Army.

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.

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the SUNCASA project in Johannesburg's Jukskei River catchment finds that nature-based solutions—including riparian restoration, invasive species removal, and urban tree planting—provide significant net benefits. Over 25 years, these interventions are projected to generate USD 8.6 million in net benefits, with a return of USD 3.06 for every USD 1 invested and a cost recovery period of 7 years. The most significant economic return stems from improved water quality, which is expected to save USD 3.7 million in avoided health costs over 25 years.

As part of the SUNCASA project, AVEGA Agahozo implemented a childcare program at tree nurseries in Kigali, Rwanda, for children aged 9 to 35 months. The initiative addresses barriers to women's participation in nature-based solutions (NbS) by providing safe, on-site care through a rotation of parents and caregivers. The program includes early childhood development training for parents and the creation of toys from recycled materials, aiming to increase the productivity of mothers and ensure the safety and development of their children.

The assessment evaluates the viability of nature-based solutions (NbS) in Johannesburg's Jukskei River catchment, including riparian restoration and urban tree planting. Using the SAVi methodology, the report finds that these interventions are economically viable, with a discounted benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) of 3.06 and cumulative net benefits of ZAR 152 million from 2025 to 2050. The most significant benefits are avoided health costs from water pollution and avoided infrastructure damage from flooding.

The SUNCASA project utilizes a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework to track changes in gender and social inclusion norms among participants in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa. Using pre- and post-training surveys with Likert-style questions, the project recorded an 82% increase in participants' knowledge of GESI issues, exceeding its 50% target. The project emphasizes an intersectional approach to identify how learning outcomes vary by gender, age, and marginalized status, specifically noting significant gains in household power dynamic awareness among women in Kigali and social equity understanding among youth in Johannesburg.

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the SUNCASA project in Kigali finds that nature-based solutions—including afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, riparian restoration, and urban tree planting—are highly cost-effective for climate adaptation. Over a 25-year period, these interventions yield a benefit-cost ratio of 2.09, with a payback period of 7 years. The primary benefits derive from reduced flood damage to urban infrastructure, alongside significant public health savings and a projected 30% increase in carbon storage (approximately 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide). The project targets 2,500 hectares across six micro-catchments and includes the planting of 85,000 urban trees to mitigate risks from extreme rainfall, heat, and soil erosion.

The assessment finds that nature-based solutions (NbS) in Kigali—including afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, and urban tree planting—are economically viable, with a discounted benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) of 2.09 and cumulative net benefits of RWF 17,039 million from 2025 to 2050. The primary economic driver is the avoidance of flood damage to infrastructure, valued at RWF 17,311 million, alongside significant intangible benefits from reduced water pollution and carbon sequestration. Sensitivity analyses indicate that higher valuations for carbon and water pollution further increase the project's economic viability, with BCRs reaching up to 2.94.

The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the SUNCASA initiative in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, finds that nature-based solutions (NbS) such as afforestation and urban tree planting provide a return of USD 1.36 in benefits for every USD 1 invested over 25 years. Key economic benefits include USD 1.35 million in avoided flood damage to infrastructure and USD 930,000 in savings from climate-related health expenses. Environmentally, the interventions are projected to store up to 175,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and create nearly 7,000 jobs by 2050, enhancing the city's resilience to floods, droughts, and heat.

The report evaluates the impact of SUNCASA-implemented nature-based solutions (NbS) in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, focusing on the Dechatu River Catchment. Using the SAVi methodology, it projects that interventions including afforestation, agroforestry, and urban tree planting will generate a discounted net benefit of ETB 101.6 million from 2025 to 2050, with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.36. The primary economic driver is the avoidance of flood-related infrastructure damage, valued at ETB 188.1 million. The assessment also highlights significant intangible benefits, such as avoided health costs from water pollution (ETB 65.8 million) and carbon sequestration (ETB 54.2 million). Sensitivity analyses indicate the project remains viable even with a 94% tree survival rate or under higher carbon pricing scenarios.

The report evaluates the Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Capacity and System Strengthening (NSA CASE) project (2019–2024) in Ethiopia's Oromia, Amhara, and Somali regions. Using the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology, the analysis finds that investing in nature-based infrastructure—such as drought-tolerant crops, perennial fruit trees, and moisture-harvesting technologies—can yield a return of up to USD 2.37 for every USD 1 invested over 26 years. This total benefit is estimated at USD 46 billion (ETB 5,161 billion), encompassing avoided costs from floods and droughts, increased agricultural productivity, carbon storage, and reduced malnutrition.

The Nature-Based Infrastructure (NBI) Global Resource Centre assessed the economic viability of nature-based interventions in Costa Rica's Reventazón River basin. The analysis indicates that a pilot project involving reforestation, agroforestry, and contoured croplands would yield a net benefit of USD 3.17 million, with a return of USD 1.23 for every dollar invested. A scaled-up, basin-wide approach is estimated to generate a net benefit of USD 6.31 million over 30 years.

The Nature-Based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre analyzed the Bring Back Our Trees project in Kasese, Uganda, which aims to reforest 30,270 hectares to combat climate-driven floods and landslides. The analysis found that the nature-based infrastructure approach generates a total net benefit of USD 69.1 million, providing a return of USD 5.44 for every dollar invested. Beyond flood mitigation, the interventions support carbon sequestration, biodiversity, job creation, and soil erosion prevention.

The SUNCASA project, funded with USD 22 million by Global Affairs Canada and managed by IISD and WRI, implements nature-based solutions (NbS) to combat flooding, heat, and biodiversity loss in Dire Dawa, Kigali, and Johannesburg. The project targets 2.2 million beneficiaries, with a specific focus on gender equality and the empowerment of marginalized groups in climate adaptation planning.

The assessment of nature-based infrastructure in the Peruvian Andes indicates that land restoration provides systemic benefits including job creation, increased carbon storage, and improved climate adaptation by reducing landslide risks and enhancing water availability. The study utilizes the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) method to move beyond conventional cost-benefit analysis, highlighting that the most significant impacts are found in livelihood protection and agricultural resilience. Additionally, the document notes that restoration can foster gender equality by involving women and create economic opportunities through agroforestry and non-timber forest products.

The report evaluates three flood risk reduction scenarios in Thessaly, Greece: nature-based infrastructure (NBI), hybrid infrastructure, and grey infrastructure. Using the SAVi methodology, it finds that NBI—consisting of riparian forest and floodplain restoration—offers the highest benefit-to-cost ratio (2.9) over 25 years. Notably, the carbon storage value of NBI (EUR 12.8 million) exceeds the total implementation costs for both NBI (EUR 6.8 million) and hybrid options (EUR 9.3 million).

The report assesses the economic viability of flood mitigation strategies in Colombia's La Mojana region, comparing grey infrastructure, nature-based infrastructure (NBI), and sustainable agriculture. It finds that all considered interventions are investment-worthy, with the potential to avoid over USD 1.26 billion in damages over 30 years.

The report evaluates a 2,868-hectare assisted natural regeneration (ANR) project in Sodo Woreda, Ethiopia, finding that it provides direct economic benefits to farmers and delivers climate adaptation and mitigation services. The analysis demonstrates that ANR is an investment-worthy strategy for combating land degradation and enhancing rural resilience, particularly when located upland of cropland to reduce erosion.

The report argues that Ethiopia's national dialogue initiative is hindered by a fundamental clash between a 'deliberative' approach favored by the government—which seeks a rational consensus to resolve differences—and the reality of a severely divided society characterized by deep-seated historical injustices. The author contends that the process will only succeed if stakeholders shift toward an 'agonistic' model that focuses on transforming antagonistic relations into adversarial politics and reckoning with the past, rather than attempting to manufacture a final consensus on fundamental national issues.

The report evaluates wastewater treatment options for the Hartenbos estuary, finding that while a hybrid solution is most effective at reducing nutrient pollution, an artificial wetland offers the highest net benefits if ecological and tourism gains are included. It also highlights that reusing 50% of treated wastewater for irrigation by 2060 could support 330 additional hectares of agricultural land, enhancing water security and job creation.