The February report, produced by Global Health Strategies with the African Union Commission, reviews targeted adaptation projects in Benin, Ethiopia and Namibia and finds measurable results. In Benin the LoCAL model, launched in 2014 with the UN Capital Development Fund, supported new flood defences, irrigation and resilient crop varieties. Performance-based grants run by the National Fund for Environment and Climate were tied to planning transparency, gender and youth inclusion and delivery outcomes. A Local Information System for Adaptation now helps assess risks in real time.
LoCAL accreditation by the Green Climate Fund improved Benin’s access to international finance, attracted co-financing from the African Development Bank and increased local government contributions. The study reports a 20 per cent reduction in flood-related economic losses and a 15–25 per cent improvement in agricultural yields linked to these investments.
Ethiopia’s Rural Connectivity for Food Security Program (2024) received an IDA grant and IFAD co-financing to expand all-season rural roads and market access, benefiting millions of households and reducing post-harvest losses. In Namibia’s Oshana region, hazard mapping by women’s groups, micro-irrigation and drought-resistant trials raised women’s representation in adaptation decisions. Researchers note that smaller local projects can be overlooked and that access to adaptation finance often remains complex.
Difficult words
- adaptation — process of adjusting to new conditionsadaptation projects, adaptation decisions, adaptation finance
- accreditation — official recognition that an organisation meets standards
- co-financing — money from two or more sources together
- grant — money given for a specific purposegrants
- irrigation — supplying water to land for cropsmicro-irrigation
- yield — amount of crop produced per areayields
- hazard mapping — making maps that show danger areas
- resilient — able to recover quickly after problems
- transparency — open and clear information about actions
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can a Local Information System for Adaptation help local communities manage risks?
- Why is including women and youth in adaptation planning important, based on the examples in the text?
- What problems might small local projects face when trying to get adaptation finance?
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