WRI Africa’s Post

🌍 16 dynamic entrepreneurs are rewriting Africa’s land restoration story. From reforesting Madagascar to turning bamboo into sustainable bike frames, these ventures are driving change at the grassroots level. After 12 weeks of training and mentorship, these trailblazers are heading to a Land Accelerator bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, to further scale their impact. Learn more about their inspiring journeys and how the Land Accelerator program is empowering them to overcome challenges and build a sustainable future for Africa. Read the article here ➡ https://bit.ly/4hd9rb6 #GenerationRestoration #LandAccelerator

🌱 October 7-8, 2024, WRI teamed up with Nairobi City County, Shack Dwellers International Kenya (SDI Kenya), Akiba Mashinani Trust, the University of Nairobi, and the IHS, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam for a consultative workshop with participants of the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Design Studio. WRI India supported on-ground survey mapping in riparian areas, with the data helping to inform the design studio designing processes. 🗺 The workshop brought together academics, professional bodies, state officials, CSOs, and community representatives who helped evaluate students' designs for climate resilience among Nairobi’s riverine communities. The students’ designs championed nature-based solutions and green-grey infrastructure, centering the aspirations of urban poor communities and leveraging context-relevant solutions. 👩🏫 Following several rounds of discussion, stakeholders gave students feedback and scored the groups on the creativity and viability of their designs. Stay tuned for a glimpse of the winning submissions!

One out of every 11 people in the world grapples with hunger. A hidden driver is lack of water💧🥗. New analysis from WRI Water shows that 1/4 of the world’s crops are grown in areas where the water supply is highly stressed, highly unreliable or both. Mounting risks like climate change and increased competition for water are threatening water supplies and, in turn, food security. Rice, wheat and corn, which provide more than half the world’s food calories, are particularly vulnerable—33% of these three staple crops are produced using water supplies that are highly stressed or highly variable. Read more ➡ https://bit.ly/3YpjCSM #WorldFoodDay #FoodSecurity #ZeroHunger

🥑 On #WorldFoodDay, we're partnering with Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and FAO to launch Kenya's Post-Harvest Strategy for Food Loss and Waste Reduction. 🎊 With Kenya's population expected to rise to 85 million by 2050, it is urgent to find innovative ways to meet food demands and ensure food security. Managing food loss and waste can transform food systems and create a better food future for Kenya. #ZeroHunger #FoodLossAndWaste #FoodSecurity #SDG1 #SDG2

💰 Kenya faces a gap of approximately $5.13 billion per year in climate finance. According to the World Bank, the country will need $50 billion over the next decade to address climate-related challenges. Public sector funding alone is not enough to fill this gap. Today, World Resources Institute and Denmark in Kenya brought together stakeholders in Nairobi for a multi-partner dialogue that explored opportunities in financing climate action for a more sustainable growth in Kenya. In his welcoming speech, Danish Ambassador to Kenya Stephan Schönemann said the private sector must play a key role in driving innovation and investment to sustainably finance climate action in Africa. Throughout the day, we heard from climate entrepreneurs, businesses, government, and development partners on how to tap into private sector financing and the challenges in the sector, such as perceived risks in investing in private climate ventures. Building a fit for purpose private sector, a strong climate rationale for investment, and innovative partnerships that address the different layers of climate investment in Africa can address some of these challenges.  "It is about unlocking opportunities and empowering climate businesses in Africa", said Wanjira Mathai, WRI Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships. Now is the time to build private sector capacity in Africa for a more impactful climate action. Thank you to the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi for hosting this discussion. Find out more about our Climate work in Africa 🌍 https://bit.ly/4h8Ioxw #ClimateFinance #ClimateAction #ClimateAdaptation #AdaptationFinance #ClimateInvestment

⚡ Africa's untapped renewable energy has the potential to expand energy access and improve livelihoods—especially for rural communities, smallholder farmers, and those that lack access to electricity or can't afford it. However, there are huge gaps in financing Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) in sub-Saharan Africa, hindering progress in scaling PURE solutions. In our latest article, our experts talk about how local banks can be part of the solution in unlocking PURE's transformative potential 🌍 https://bit.ly/4h35c1S #RenewableEnergy #EnergyAccess

#ICYMI: The Global Off-Grid Solar and Finance for Energy Forum GOGLA happened from 8–10 October in Nairobi, Kenya. We were thrilled to have WRI Africa Deputy Director Rebekah Shirley, Ph.D. deliver an inspiring keynote on the transformative role of off-grid solar in driving a just and inclusive energy transition across Africa. Dr. Shirley emphasized that off-grid solar solutions are not only the fastest and most cost-effective means to bring low-carbon electricity to millions of people in climate-vulnerable regions, but they also offer resilience against climate shocks. From lighting homes and powering businesses, to supporting essential services such as health facilities and schools, off-grid solar is fundamentally changing lives across the globe. However, despite its immense promise, the off-grid solar sector in Africa has received only a small fraction of global resilience and adaptation finance. To fully unlock its potential and enhance climate adaptation, targeted investments are urgently needed. Dr. Shirley highlighted the opportunities in combining off-grid solar with other crucial interventions, such as early warning systems and climate-smart agriculture. This integrated approach could significantly boost the resilience of communities on the frontlines of climate change. She also spoke about the critical role of private sector engagement in scaling renewable energy solutions. Through mechanisms such as blended finance and green bonds, Africa can attract substantial private capital to its renewable energy markets. These financing mechanisms will not only support the growth of off-grid solar but also make African markets more attractive to investors, facilitating a much-needed influx of capital to strengthen climate adaptation efforts. Find out more about our Energy work in Africa ➡ https://bit.ly/3Y5jrKG #JustTransitions #EnergyForAll #ClimateAdaptation #OffGridSolar #RenewabelEnergy #CleanEnergy #ClimateRisilience

🌍 Join us at the 2024 Land Accelerator Demo Day, where Africa’s leading restoration enterprises will present innovative solutions to address land degradation and deforestation. This milestone event, hosted by World Resources Institute and MDF | Empowering People, Creating Impact, will take place on 17 October 2024, in Accra, Ghana. What’s in store? 👉 Pitch presentations from the top 16 cohort members 👉 Networking opportunities with investors, business leaders, and fellow innovators 👉 Cocktail hour to celebrate and connect Let's shape the future of Africa’s land restoration together! Join us in person or virtually ➡ https://bit.ly/482bLgT #LandAccelerator #GenerationRestoration

🌟 Exciting update from Nigeria! 🌟 We're thrilled to announce our transformative training for youth climate leaders in Nigeria is now available online until December 2024. Young leaders across Nigeria can access trainings to gain expertise in critical areas of climate action. ______________________________________________________________________________ This past August, World Resources Institute and GreenHubAfrica Group hosted an in-person Climate Leadership Training covering critical topics aligning with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS). It was an incredible day filled with insightful discussions and learning for Nigerian youth. The training equipped young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills to understand the country's NDC and LT-LEDS, and the role they can play in supporting implementation. By engaging and empowering youth, Nigeria can accelerate its progress towards meeting its climate commitments while fostering a generation of climate-conscious leaders. Here's what some of our youth leaders said about the training 👉 https://bit.ly/3Y2MFdw 📢 Good news! This training in now available online. Modules include: 🔹 Climate Negotiations & Policy Analysis 🔹 Grant Writing & Climate Finance 🔹 Energy Access & Just Transition 🔹 Green Entrepreneurship 🔹 Climate Change & Health Register today to access courses ➡ https://bit.ly/3TYu0hr #Nigeria #ClimateLeadership #YouthForClimate #ClimateAction