Written By: Faith Jemosop
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is backing Botswana, Gabon, Liberia, and Lesotho in developing long-term low-carbon and climate-resilient development strategies. Through technical assistance, funding, and regional cooperation, the Bank is helping these countries align with the Paris Agreement by creating roadmaps that integrate climate priorities into national development agendas.
At COP29, a flagship event titled “From Vision to Strategy” showcased the progress these four countries have made. This initiative is part of the AfDB’s wider ambition to allocate up to 45% of its total investments toward climate action by 2025.
The Urgency of Climate-Resilient Planning in Africa
Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of climate change, despite contributing the least to global emissions. Nine out of the ten most climate-vulnerable countries are in Africa. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, and droughts have already begun to threaten food security, economic stability, and public health across the continent.
To address these growing risks, African nations are turning to long-term strategies for low-carbon growth and climate adaptation. These plans go beyond short-term fixes, offering 30- to 50-year visions that guide national policy, infrastructure investments, and international partnerships.
The African Development Bank, through its Africa Climate Change Fund and other financing arms, is enabling four countries, Botswana, Gabon, Liberia, and Lesotho—to lead the way in this transformation.
Country Progress and Highlights
Botswana
Botswana has begun drafting a National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, supported by the AfDB. The process is highly consultative, involving stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector. The goal is to create a unified roadmap that embeds climate action across all sectors of the economy, especially agriculture, mining, and water resource management.
Gabon
Gabon has taken significant strides toward sustainability. It was an early adopter of climate reforms, establishing a national climate council over a decade ago. Gabon’s energy strategy leans heavily on hydropower and aims to achieve a clean energy majority by 2030. The country is also innovating with natural capital accounting and exploring ways to channel carbon revenues into education, debt relief, and forest conservation.
Liberia
Liberia is benefiting from targeted grants and institutional support from the AfDB, which recently approved an $18 million package to strengthen fiscal governance. Although it is still in the early stages of developing its long-term climate vision, Liberia is already mainstreaming climate action into its public finance and development strategy. Lessons from this experience are informing other fragile and low-capacity states in the region.
Lesotho
Lesotho has partnered with the AfDB for over 50 years. The Bank’s current investment portfolio in the country stands at more than $300 million, supporting energy interconnection, climate-smart agriculture, and water infrastructure. Lesotho is incorporating low-carbon planning into its hydropower and water transfer projects, laying the foundation for sustainable development that balances adaptation and economic growth.
The African Development Bank’s Role
The AfDB is playing a critical role in transforming climate aspirations into national development policies. Several tools and strategies underscore this effort:
Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF)
Established in 2014, this fund supports both project implementation and upstream planning efforts. It enables African countries to design long-term visions, conduct climate vulnerability assessments, and identify opportunities for green growth.
Climate Finance Commitments
The Bank’s 2021–2025 Climate Action Plan targets at least $25 billion in climate financing. Already, 45% of AfDB investments in 2022–2023 were climate-focused, surpassing its target of 40%.
Innovative Financing Tools
Through mechanisms like the Adaptation Benefits Mechanism (ABM) and the Africa Carbon Support Facility (ACSF), the Bank is pioneering ways to attract private finance. These tools de-risk climate investments, reward adaptation outcomes, and support market and non-market climate actions.
Policy Coherence and Capacity Building
AfDB is not only funding infrastructure and programs but also strengthening national institutions, enhancing data collection, and training policymakers. This ensures that climate strategies are not just written documents but active, evolving national frameworks.
Why Long-Term Strategies Matter
Long-term low-carbon and climate-resilient development strategies are crucial for several reasons:
- Reducing Vulnerability
Africa faces severe climate shocks, floods, droughts, and temperature spikes. Without long-term planning, governments will remain reactive, constantly firefighting crises instead of building systemic resilience.
- Unlocking Investment
Clear long-term strategies attract both public and private investment. They provide a signal to donors, lenders, and businesses that a country is committed to sustainable growth, improving creditworthiness and investor confidence.
- Strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
These long-term strategies enhance the credibility and ambition of a country’s NDCs under the Paris Agreement. They also create pathways for integrating adaptation and mitigation targets into broader development goals.
- Empowering Local Action
When built through participatory processes, these strategies reflect the voices of communities, farmers, youth, and indigenous groups. They help tailor solutions to local realities and ensure that climate justice remains central.
Also read: Rwanda Embraces GMO Seeds to Boost Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security
Lessons from the COP29 Side Event
The side event at COP29 in Baku served as a platform for peer learning and sharing best practices. Representatives from Botswana, Gabon, Liberia, and Lesotho discussed how national consultations, cross-sectoral collaboration, and AfDB’s technical assistance were essential in moving from broad visions to actionable strategies.
Key takeaways included:
- The importance of tailoring strategies to each country’s institutional capacity and development context
- The need to integrate climate risk into budgeting, planning, and procurement systems
- The value of regional cooperation in knowledge-sharing and resource mobilization
The event also helped raise awareness of the AfDB’s growing role as a climate leader in Africa.
Despite progress, several challenges remain:
- Data and Capacity Gaps
Many countries lack reliable climate data, modeling tools, or technical expertise to design robust strategies.
- Limited Fiscal Space
High debt burdens and limited tax revenues restrict the ability of many African nations to invest in long-term resilience.
- Balancing Immediate Needs and Future Goals
Governments must address urgent development priorities, like poverty and infrastructure, while planning for climate risks that may peak decades later.
- Ensuring Inclusive Participation
Women, youth, and marginalized communities must be engaged meaningfully in shaping long-term visions.
Also read: Tanzania’s Agriculture Bank Sets Regional Precedent with Climate Risk Management Initiative
The work done in Botswana, Gabon, Liberia, and Lesotho is only the beginning. AfDB is already scaling up similar support in other countries. Future plans include:
- Finalizing and implementing the long-term strategies
- Mainstreaming climate planning into national budgets
- Mobilizing more public and private financing through blended financial instruments
- Tracking and reporting progress annually at future COPs
These actions will create a ripple effect, helping African countries shift from vulnerability to resilience, from dependency to leadership in global climate governance.
