Climate solutions cannot succeed unless they are backed by supportive finance and policy. That’s why we unite climate, economics, finance and governance under one roof. By bringing these dimensions together, WRI Africa helps countries drive systems-wide change — from planning, policy decisions and implementation through to data transparency and accountability. We do this using cutting-edge tools and models that contribute to the continent's low carbon and climate-resilient development pathways and maximize human and environmental well-being. 

Our goal is to advance comprehensive and inclusive climate action across adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage within focus countries, delivering benefits for people, nature and climate. 

National climate action that integrates mitigation, adaptation and equity is at the center of our work in this area. However, most of this action happens at the local level. In Africa, we aim to bridge the gap between global solutions and local implementation, bringing in tools and expertise to build partnerships and collaboration to build lasting resilience.

Our approach is to:

  • Enhance the institutional capacity of governments and universities to understand, integrate and act on high-quality information. This includes climate data, economic and sector models, central and sectoral ministerial processes, and budgets.
  • Raise climate action and ambition in Africa. This includes advancing research and understanding of climate finance flows for Africa; increasing commitments for locally led adaptation; operationalizing loss and damage finance and practice; integrating climate into economic and sectoral models; and developing strategies for advancing and implementing long-term climate strategies.
  • Help countries develop system-wide integrated solutions for mitigation and adaptation in key transition areas, including cities, energy and vital landscapes.