Africa stands as a continent rich in both hu man and natural resources, presenting a unique opportunity to address the Sustainable Development Goals and aspirations. However, it also grapples with a myriad of challenges such as wars, food insecurity, energy crises, desertification, water scarcity, health issues, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, reduced economic growth, and pandemics and their aftermath. These challenges are compounded by the pervasive influence of cli mate change, magnifying existing risks and reshaping the continent’s landscape with frequent and intensified natural disasters such as storms, droughts, wildfires, floods and landslides.
Between January 2021 and September 2022, over 54 million Africans experienced the detrimental impacts of climate change, with east ern Africa facing pronounced droughts and floods affecting more than 33 million individuals. Northern Africa, on the other hand, grappled with damaging floods and wildfires. Over the past decade, extreme weather events linked to climate change have been responsible for many fatal disasters on the continent, resulting in a continuous transformation of its landscape and natural systems. Climate change emerges as the predominant challenge for Africa, affecting over 55 percent of its workforce employed in climate-sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture. Rain-fed agricultural enterprises dominate the continent, leading to a 34 percent decline in crop yields since 1961, the highest among global regions. The impact of climate change on hydrology is profound, causing significant changes in river discharge (−50 percent to +50 percent) and cascading effects across sectors, causing water scarcity and endangering lives, livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
Africa, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, is the world’s second most densely populated continent. Despite a marginal decrease in population growth, projections suggest a trajectory towards 2.5 billion by 2050. Notable socio-demographic characteristics include rapid population expansion, elevated fertility rates, a young median age, rising life expectancy, sizeable households and widespread poverty. Elevated fertility levels,…..