The SUNCASA Project (Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa) is entering its third and final year, having already planted over 2 million trees and shrubs and revitalized degraded urban river catchments across Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa. In Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, the project has exceeded agroforestry targets by restoring more than 550 hectares of land, planting over 500,000 trees, and establishing 95 hectares of buffer zones. As the city prepares to host a peer-learning event in January 2026, more than 60 partners will gather to share experiences, assess achievements, and align strategies for the project’s final implementation phase.
The peer-learning event, held from January 26 to 29 at the Sharaf Hotel, will bring together stakeholders from Dire Dawa, Kigali, and Johannesburg to discuss early project impacts, long-term sustainability goals, and the scalability of nature-based solutions (NbS). The event emphasizes gender equality, social inclusion, and community-led approaches, providing a platform for technical exchanges, site visits, and reflections on the successes and challenges of implementing NbS in urban settings.
Dire Dawa, as the host city, will highlight the unique challenges of arid and semi-arid environments, including limited water availability, extreme temperatures, and shallow soils. Despite these constraints, the city has achieved a remarkable 94% tree survival rate, demonstrating effective strategies for sustaining NbS in harsh conditions. Experts from local institutions, including Haramaya University and the Hararghe Catholic Secretariat, will share insights on local constraints and solutions that contributed to these outcomes.
The event will also showcase progress from other participating cities. In Kigali, Rwanda, 1,344 hectares of land have been planted with trees, and over 108,000 trees have enhanced urban green spaces. Community engagement initiatives have included student-led climate action, nursery development to support parental involvement, and measures to prevent gender-based violence at project sites. Johannesburg will share lessons from the restoration of the Jukskei River, including the removal of invasive species, creation of buffer zones, urban tree planting, and innovative public engagement through environmental education and creative projects like turning river waste into functional art and litter traps.
Launched in 2024 and funded by the Government of Canada, SUNCASA is delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The initiative focuses on climate resilience, gender equality, social inclusion, and biodiversity protection in urban areas, benefiting an estimated 2.2 million people living in climate-vulnerable communities. The project underscores how coordinated, locally led NbS can strengthen livelihoods, protect natural habitats, and serve as scalable models for other climate-challenged cities.
The Dire Dawa peer-learning event provides a critical platform for exchanging best practices, reflecting on lessons learned, and exploring pathways to sustainability. By combining site visits, technical dialogue, and peer-led exchanges, the event aims to elevate city experiences, strengthen trust among partners, and ensure that the project’s outcomes and knowledge extend beyond its lifecycle. Project leaders emphasize that the experiences in Dire Dawa and other cities demonstrate the potential of nature-based solutions to foster resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable urban development.
