The Green Climate Fund has approved $151 million for the African Development Bank's flagship resilience program, targeting climate vulnerability in the Horn of Africa.

Approved during the Fund’s 39th Board meeting, the funding package includes a $90.7 million grant and a $60.3 million loan. This investment will support the Bank Group’s “Building Climate Resilience for Food and Livelihoods in the Horn of Africa” program, benefiting 4.6 million people across Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

The Horn of Africa faces significant climate challenges, including erratic weather, rising temperatures, and frequent droughts and floods. These issues have exacerbated socio-economic problems and threatened the livelihoods of agro-pastoral communities reliant on rain-fed agriculture.

Dr. Martin Fregene, Director for Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the Bank, stated: “The Green Climate Fund's support highlights the African Development Bank Group’s commitment to advancing climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in the Horn of Africa, thereby enhancing food security in one of the most vulnerable regions.”

Fregene added that the funding will bolster the Feed Africa Strategy and the Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts introduced at the Dakar 2 Feed Africa Summit. The initiative aims to alleviate poverty, reduce food insecurity, and drive sustainable economic growth in the region.

The new funding will focus on gender-balanced, community-driven resilience solutions, including sustainable land management, climate-smart technologies, renewable energy, capacity building for cooperatives, agribusinesses, and SMEs, as well as access to credit, climate services, early warning systems, and index insurance.

Dr. Anthony Nyong, Director for Climate Change and Green Growth at the Bank, noted: “The Bank has long been committed to addressing climate change and will continue to integrate low-carbon and climate-resilient economic development into all key sectors of our work.”

The Green Climate Fund’s investment will also contribute to reducing carbon emissions, potentially sequestering 14.1 million tonnes of CO2 over the 25-year project duration—equivalent to the lifetime emissions of 600,000 cars.

The Bank will begin funding and overseeing the program starting in Q1 2025. The project will be implemented by the five countries over the next six years, with benefits extending to the communities for 25 years.