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Climate

Adapting to climate change is a key factor for West Africa which depends largely on rain-fed agriculture and transhumant livestock rearing. Partly due to the uncertainty of climate variability in the region, climate model projections provide little guidance to inform decision making on adaption and resilience-building. Another major issue in the region is urbanisation, where close to half the population lives in cities. This significant shift in demographics will play an important role in climate change and should be considered in adaptation policies.  For this reason, SWAC is focusing on resilience to climate change in border agglomerations. 

Resilience to climate change in border agglomerations

Cross-border territories, cities in particular, are or should become areas of joint responsibility and management that pool their resources to address climate and risks. 

What cross-border adaptation measures could be implemented to build border intercommunality and resilience to climate risks? What sources of international funding are available to local authorities in West Africa for adaptation to climate change? What legal and governance solutions can be identified to enable communities to carry out and finance cross-border projects? How can local authorities be boosted in order to put into place adequate legal frameworks with the state for cross-border co-operation?

The work conducted by SWAC seeks to assess the current state of cross-border law and promote shared legislative and financial levers that could improve the prospects for cross-border entities to strengthen resilience to climate change in border cities.

It proposes a practical guide on the legislative and financial levers for developing cross-border initiatives on resilience to climate change. A non-exhaustive and evolving inventory of financing mechanisms for cross-border local development projects related to climate change adaptation in West Africa is also proposed. The guide is destined for the use of local authorities, members of the Sahel and West Africa Club and other development partners, regional and international organisations that want to set-up effective governance structures for cross-border projects on climate resilience.

Go to the guide

Inventory of financing mechanisms

Work on the legislative scenarios was carried out in collaboration with the Transfrontier Operational Mission (MOT) and draw on its past experience collaborating with the African Union Border Programme, ECOWAS, UEMOA and SWAC members. The OECD Environment Directorate, regional initiatives including NEPAD and international organisations will also be approached. The CILSS/AGHRYMET data are especially relevant in terms of the physical characteristics of border cities.

This work contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action.

Supporting resilience in the wake of food and nutrition insecurity

Supporting resilience in the wake of food and nutrition insecurity is also an essential tool for climate change adaptation and variability in the Sahel and West Africa. Climate change is a dominant risk factor for chronic and severe food and nutrition crises in the region, provoking severe consequences for the poorest communities of the region. The Global Alliance for Resilience (AGIR) Sahel and West Africa will pursue its advocacy to promote tools to better adapt to climate variability and reinforce resilience strategies to climate shocks. SWAC has supported regional dialogue on food and nutrition security and climate change in the lead up to COP21 with the Sahel and West Africa Club Forum at Expo Milano, and the signing of the Milan and COP21 declarations by AGIR.


The Secretariat's work contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action.