27 February 2013: African countries are applying innovative solutions to respond to climate-related challenges in the water, agriculture and energy sectors, with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). An AfDB chapter, titled “Ensuring Africa’s Water, Food and Energy Security,” in the CIF’s 2012 Annual Report, titled “Creating the Climate for Change,” describes these challenges and showcases AfDB and CIF support in building climate-resilient infrastructure, as well as in creating more accurate, reliable climate information.

The report stresses climate change impacts on Africa’s water sector, citing projections that up to 250 million Africans will experience increased water stress by 2020, which will affect crop yields and food security. To address this challenge, AfDB is supporting Mozambique, Niger and Zambia to develop climate-resilient agriculture plans. Mozambique will rehabilitate its drainage and irrigation systems, and reinforce rural roads to enhance resilience to weather extremes and tackle seawater intrusions. Niger will strengthen its early warning system, improve its climate observatory system and climate modeling, expand research and communication on climate information, and implement erosion control, irrigation schemes and other water management measures.

Other highlighted interventions include: drainage systems to cope with urban flooding in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Kenya; geothermal and wind power in Ethiopia; wastewater treatment facilities in Tunisia; and two AfDB water initiatives, the African Water Facility (AWF) and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative.

The AfDB serves as an implementing agency of the CIF, which aims to scale up climate financing and knowledge to transform economies and equip communities for a climate-stressed world. [AfDB Press Release] [Publication: Creating the Climate for Change] [AfDB African Water Facility] [AfDB Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative] [IISD RS Story on the CIF Report]