24 October 2012: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved the Climate Information Development and Forecasting Project and the Water Resources Mobilization and Development Project in Niger, and the Baixo Limpopo Irrigation and Climate Resilience Project in Mozambique.

The projects, with a combined budget of US$50.75 million, are funded through the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR). The projects respond to repeated droughts in Niger and frequent floods in Mozambique, which have slowed development and threatened food security.

In Niger, the two projects will improve climate modeling and early warning systems and implement sustainable water management activities such as micro-dams and boreholes. Together the projects aim to increase knowledge and information on climate change impacts and improve the livelihoods of about 700,000 people.

In Mozambique, the project will improve the climate resilience of agricultural production through support for improved seed varieties, better access to markets and investments in rural infrastructure.

The World Bank is the overall coordinator of the CIF partnership. [AfDB Press Release]