Africa Public Expenditure on Climate Change Adaptation

2018
UNDP, Africa

This study reviewed current public expenditure on climate change adaptation in Africa and considered options for future planning.  The aim was to enable governments across Africa to review their approaches to climate change planning and reporting, and increase the possibilities for effective pan-African cooperation.  The study focused particularly on climate change impacts in agriculture / irrigation and urban infrastructure, such as losses, damage and reductions in productivity caused by flood, drought and rising sea levels.

The Mokoro team, led by Kit Nicholson, began by reviewing available data from multiple African countries, to understand recent public expenditure on climate change adaptation.  The team assessed levels of exposure and sensitivity to the effects of climate change, modelling potential future economic impacts, and assessing whether current and planned expenditure was likely to be adequate to address the adaptation challenge.

The final report aimed to contribute to the evolution of a framework within which individual African countries could build consistency in their approaches to planning and reporting on adaptation, whilst allowing for differences in approach and systems between countries.  The study considered options for strengthening climate change strategy, making institutional reforms, participating in relevant pan-African initiatives, and building the capacity of governments.  It also looked at financing scenarios, assessing the potential benefits from adaptation expenditure (presented as a percentage of GDP), calculating the adaptation gap (potential economic loss and damage not addressed by the expected adaptation benefits), and considering options for closing the adaptation gap.

Study conducted in partnership with Climate Scrutiny.

The people behind the project

Project leader: Kit Nicholson

Principal Consultant

Fran Girling