A New Advocacy Project on Needs Based Adaptation launched

Climate change poses a serious threat to the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people in Africa, especially in the Sub-Saharan region. The impacts of climate change are already being felt in various sectors, such as agriculture, water, health, and biodiversity. To cope with these challenges, adaptation is a key priority for Africa. However, adaptation does not receive enough attention or support in global policy processes and dialogues.

To address this gap, a new project, Needs Based Adaptation Advocacy (NBAA) project, has been launched by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The project aims to elevate needs-based adaptation in Africa and influence global policy processes to ensure that adaptation is adequately financed and implemented.

Needs based adaptation is an approach that focuses on the specific needs and priorities of vulnerable communities and groups, rather than on generic or top-down solutions. It involves participatory and inclusive processes that empower local actors to identify and implement adaptation actions that are relevant, effective, and sustainable. Needs based adaptation also recognizes the synergies and trade-offs between adaptation and other development goals, such as poverty reduction, food security, gender equality, and human rights.

The project will conduct research and analysis on the current state of adaptation in Africa, identify best practices and gaps, and develop policy recommendations for national, regional, and global levels. The project will also engage with various stakeholders, such as governments, civil society organizations, private sector actors, media, and academia, to raise awareness and build capacity on needs-based adaptation. The project will also participate in key advocacy platforms and events, such as the COP28 in Dubai, to amplify the voices of African actors and influence decision-makers.

The project hopes to contribute to a better-informed climate adaptation policy response, stronger adaptive capacity and climate resilience in Africa, improved synergies between adaptation action and other policy objectives, and enhanced cooperation between Africa and the EU on climate change issues. The project also hopes to generate knowledge that can inform major international scientific assessments, such as the IPCC Assessment Reports.

The project is expected to run for three years (2022-2025) and cover 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia. The project includes sub-grants from PACJA to ACT Alliance, The Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), and The Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC).

For more information about this project, please Click here