AfDB Unveils Strategic Plan to Implement Global Biodiversity Framework in Africa

AfDB’s New Initiatives Align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Focusing on Nature Conservation and Economic Transformation by 2030.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has outlined a bold plan to support Africa's implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), an initiative adopted at COP15 in December 2022 with ambitious targets to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and foster harmony with nature by 2050. This framework is integrated into the Bank's Ten-Year Strategy (2024-2033), underscoring biodiversity as a priority for sustainable growth across Africa.

At a prominent side event during the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, Dr. Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, Manager of the Climate Change and Green Growth Department at AfDB, emphasized the importance of Africa's natural resources, which make up 30% to 50% of national wealth in numerous African countries. "Africa's natural capital is essential for our continent's transformation," Dorsouma said, stressing the need for sustainable management practices to leverage this unique wealth.

Key AfDB initiatives showcased at the event included the $6.5 billion Great Green Wall Project, the Desert-to-Power Initiative, and the Natural Capital for African Development Finance Project. Innocent Onah, AfDB's Chief Natural Resources Officer, noted that these projects focus on ecosystem restoration and the sustainable use of resources in major river basins, such as Lake Chad, Niger, Congo, and Zambezi.

The AfDB's three strategic pillars for biodiversity action—biodiversity policy, biodiversity finance, and natural capital valuation—were at the core of the Bank's presentation. The event emphasized the Bank's commitment to increasing investment in nature conservation through initiatives that address KMGBF targets and align with AfDB's High 5s and strategic objectives.

Candice Stevens, CEO of the Sustainable Finance Coalition, highlighted the economic potential embedded in Africa's natural assets, stressing that "Africa's wealth truly lies in its biodiversity." Frederick Kwame Kumah, Vice President of Global Leadership at the African Wildlife Foundation, advocated for the integration of biodiversity goals into national development plans to ensure long-term sustainability.

The side event attracted prominent environmental stakeholders, including the UN Environment Programme, World Wildlife Fund, African Union Commission, and African Wildlife Foundation. These organizations, alongside AfDB, aim to catalyze broader action for biodiversity by leveraging financial support and fostering regional partnerships. As part of this agenda, the AfDB is set to launch its Environment Action Plan 2024–2030, a roadmap for conserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and addressing ecosystem degradation across the continent. 4o