African leaders endorse plan to build climate resilience into recovery from COVID-19
Around 54 leaders from the African Adaptation Initiative, championed by President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, have endorsed the policy recommendations outlined in the brief “Integrated Responses to Building Climate and Pandemic Resilience in Africa”
The policy brief was prepared by the Global Centre on Adaptation and African Adaptation Initiative and has outlined a plan of action for African countries to ensure stimulus spending is used to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis.
The policy brief recommends adaptation actions for three major systems affected by the pandemic and climate change in Africa. Specifically, the recommendations include adaptation actions to secure the food supply for vulnerable populations and strengthen the agricultural value chain; increase access to water and sanitation in parallel with efforts to improve water governance; and investment in resilient infrastructure to create jobs. These recommendations result in a triple dividend for African countries: reduced pandemic risk, increased climate resilience and strengthened economic recovery.