Cities in sub-Saharan Africa face increasing climate risks, including drought, extreme heat and frequent flooding. These challenges threaten public health, livelihoods, and economies. By 2050, 85% of Africa’s urban population will experience temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius for at least eight days a year, worsening heatstroke and reducing worker productivity. At the same time, rapid changes in land use are accelerating biodiversity loss and weakening critical ecosystem services that sustain urban life.
The region’s urban population is expected to double by 2050, making addressing infrastructure gaps more important than ever. The Green-Gray Infrastructure (GGI) Accelerator works to support cities in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing their resilience to climate change through nature-based solutions (NBS) and hybrid green-gray infrastructure. This initiative not only strengthens city infrastructure, but also creates green jobs and provides public health benefits.
Green-gray infrastructure integrates natural ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and mangroves (“green”) with traditional man-made systems such as seawalls, stormwater drains, and water treatment plants (“grey”). By leveraging the strengths of both approaches, cities can strengthen resilience, protect biodiversity and support sustainable development.
Read more: Strategies for cities to adapt and thrive in a changing climate
Cities that lead the way
The first cohort of the GGI Accelerator consists of 11 cities in seven countries.
Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa
Rwanda: Kigali, Musanze
South Africa: Johannesburg, Gkebela
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Bukavu, Uvira
Kenya: Nairobi
Ghana: Kumasi
Republic of Congo: Brazzaville
These cities receive comprehensive technical assistance to implement context-sensitive, climate-resilient infrastructure projects that improve liveability, equity, and environmental sustainability.
The accelerator provides end-to-end support in five key areas:
Policy guidance and institutional development We help cities integrate NBS and GGI into their policy and urban planning frameworks. Raise government, donor and community awareness through locally tailored research that aligns strategies with climate and water resilience goals.
2. Project development and implementation
Perform risk and opportunity assessments to identify the most effective solutions.
Support gender and social equity responsive planning. Provide technical assistance for species selection, stakeholder engagement, and project monitoring.
3. Funding, financial and economic analysis
Connect cities with funders and investors. Develop business cases and financial structures to improve project bankability. Host an investor roundtable to enable sustainable financing.
4. Peer learning and development
Facilitate knowledge exchange between cities and share best practices. Enhance your technical expertise in planning, implementation, and maintenance.
5. Communication and stakeholder engagement
Increase visibility of NBS and GGI efforts. Engage policymakers, communities, and investors to accelerate adoption and scale-up of solutions.
collaborative efforts
The GGI Accelerator is led by WRI Africa, Cities4Forests, and the Urban Water Resilience Initiative, with funding from DANIDA and the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. It is also in collaboration with the SUNCASA project supported by the Government of Canada.
The GGI Accelerator powers sub-Saharan Africa’s transformation to climate-resilient urban infrastructure by providing cities with the tools, expertise, and financial support they need.
Cities and stakeholders interested in joining or supporting this initiative can join the program to advance the adoption of sustainable infrastructure solutions. Together, we can build greener, more resilient and inclusive urban spaces for future generations.
