The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Gives Green Light to $143 Million Investment in Zambezi River Basin
The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) has endorsed a $143 million investment to support climate resilience and sustainable development in Africa’s Zambezi River Basin Region. Beneficiaries include Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Tanzania, with funding aimed at ecosystem restoration, sustainable forest management, and livelihood improvements for communities dependent on the river system. The initiative, implemented by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank, aligns with the Zambezi Watercourse Strategic Plan and is expected to generate nearly $1 billion in co-financing, with significant private sector participation.
The investment will target eight priority areas in the basin, addressing challenges such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and human-wildlife conflict. Zambia's Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Collins Nzovu, emphasised the plan’s importance in fostering climate resilience and regional cooperation. Additionally, CIF’s Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) will channel $15 million directly to Indigenous peoples and local communities in the Zambezi region, Kenya, and Brazil to support locally-led sustainability efforts. The funding underscores a growing commitment to nature-based solutions that balance conservation with economic opportunities, reinforcing Africa’s natural assets as key drivers of environmental and tourism sustainability.
Source: Lusaka Times
