The China Development Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa have recently signed a $293 million loan facility to support infrastructure development across the continent. As African governments begin to consider tapping into this facility, a key question arises: how can Africa ensure its infrastructure is both resilient and adaptable in the face of climate change?
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are emerging as a critical response to this challenge. These strategies integrate natural systems into built environments, offering sustainable, cost-effective alternatives to traditional infrastructure approaches. Rather than working against nature, they harness its processes to provide resilience while delivering multiple benefits for human well-being and biodiversity.
Read also: Another public-private rail transport service agreement signed
A recent report, A Value-Driven Approach to Nature-Based Infrastructure, emphasizes that infrastructure development contributes to over 25% of human-driven biodiversity loss through habitat fragmentation, resource depletion, and pollution. For Africa, with its globally significant ecosystems and biodiversity, balancing a $170 billion annual infrastructure need with environmental sustainability is both a challenge and an opportunity. By adopting NbS, the continent can redefine its development path—building infrastructure that works with natural systems rather than depleting them.
The diversity of stakeholders involved—from governments to construction firms and real estate developers—creates opportunities to adopt tailored NbS that address both environmental and developmental needs. Examples include wetlands for flood management, mangrove reforestation for coastal protection, and urban green corridors that enhance biodiversity while mitigating urban heat.
Evidence also shows that NbS provide strong economic returns. Studies reveal that 92% of NbS projects are more cost-effective than conventional “grey” infrastructure alternatives, with net present values ranging from $1.9 million to $837 million. In many cases, businesses implementing NbS achieve a return on investment far greater than traditional solutions such as wastewater treatment plants or stormwater drainage networks.
Globally, about 80% of infrastructure companies surveyed report efforts to reduce environmental harm, but a shift towards proactive, nature-positive strategies is still needed. Such approaches not only restore ecosystems but also create competitive advantages, unlock innovation, and build resilience against climate impacts.
In Africa, examples are already emerging. In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where annual flooding causes losses exceeding $47 million, NbS interventions such as riverside reforestation and community-based drainage cleaning are reducing risks and improving local resilience. Similar applications across water management, urban planning, and energy infrastructure can unlock immense environmental and economic value across the continent.
As investment in NbS continues to grow—supported by institutions like the World Bank, which notes a 15% annual increase in Sub-Saharan Africa since 2012—the opportunity is clear. By embedding natural systems into development planning, Africa can leapfrog outdated models and lead the way in building infrastructure that is sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.
Nature-based solutions are not a replacement for grey infrastructure, but they offer powerful, complementary tools. By blending natural and engineered approaches, Africa can secure the infrastructure it needs while protecting its ecosystems, creating long-term value for both people and the planet.
