South Africa has secured a significant climate finance grant of over USD 40 million (approximately R700 million) from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to strengthen its disaster risk management in response to the escalating impacts of climate change. The funding announcement was made during the 42nd GCF Board meeting held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The grant will support the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Eco-Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco DRR) project, which will be implemented over an eight-year period. The initiative, officially titled Scaling up ecosystem-based approaches to managing climate intensified disaster risks in vulnerable regions of South Africa, aims to integrate ecosystem-based and nature-based solutions into disaster management.
SANBI, which has been a GCF-accredited Direct Access Entity since 2016, highlighted this as a landmark investment, emphasizing its role in mobilizing international climate finance while also supporting national environmental priorities. Alongside the Development Bank of Southern Africa, SANBI remains one of only two South African institutions accredited by the GCF.
The Eco DRR project is designed to have long-lasting effects, with an expected 20-year impact in the target communities. It is projected to directly benefit approximately 366,000 people and indirectly reach over 5.1 million South Africans, particularly in regions prone to climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts, and wildfires.
The initiative aligns with South Africa’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy by promoting the integration of nature-based solutions into long-term planning frameworks, strengthening resilience against future climate challenges.
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