87 cheapest way to electrify Africa. These fundamental shifts in technology make adopting these technologies not only viable but the best option in many cases. These and other opportunities need to be explored more in NDCs. As such, RMC NDCs need to be broken down into a series of development priorities and projects that can be implemented. Strategic areas of special emphasis As a reflection of the Climate Change and Green Growth Policy, the Bank’s Climate Change and Green Growth Strategy adopts the Policy’s four areas of special emphasis. The four areas of special emphasis directly link climate change and green growth to the broader context of sustainable development. The Bank’s approach to supporting climate-resilient, low-carbon, resourceefficient, and responsible development in Africa is intertwined with its goals on economic growth, livelihoods generation, job creation, poverty reduction, socially inclusive progress, market expansion, and socio-political stability, as reflected in the areas of special emphasis. Transition to green growth The Bank has taken a leadership position among MDBs by visibly integrating green growth within its climate change strategic framework (policy, strategy, and action plan). This is in keeping with the Bank’s recognition that a green transition brings socio-economic benefits, and its stance on the natural complementarity between environmental sustainability and economic development. In 2021, an independent evaluation of the African Development Bank’s climate change and green growth performance recommended that the Bank should position green growth appropriately within the Bank’s hierarchy. This requires foundational actions such as: establishing a clear theory of change and an integrated results framework; clearly defining and articulating what green growth means to the African Development Bank (aligned with definitions of green growth used by other MDBs); better defining how green growth can be used to boost socio-economic resilience in governments, communities, and business models; identifying and supporting green growth policy and investment opportunities in all of the Bank’s operations complexes; strengthening the interlinkages between green growth and environmental and social safeguards (ESS); and mainstreaming green growth into the Bank’s investments, such as through a mandatory process for project appraisal (similar to ESS disclosures). Further, the Bank is committed to the area of circular and circular carbon economy in Africa. Notably, it hosts the secretariat of the African Circular Economy Alliance founded by Rwanda, South Africa, and Nigeria, and has launched the Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), a multi-donor trust fund to support circular economy solutions and green growth in Africa. A collaboration between the Bank, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Finnish Innovation Fund, and the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), ACEF will support the creation of enabling environments such as national circular economy roadmaps and bankable circular economy investments in Africa. Acknowledging the strategic importance of the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector 2 For the purposes of this strategic framework, nature-based solutions are consistent with the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions. In the context of Africa, the Bank also renewed its commitment to nature and will continue to work with African countries to achieve and strengthen their NDCs in the sector. The Bank is committed to further strengthening its use of nature-based solutions2 in the 2021–2030 period as part of its activities and projects, such as the Sahel Climate Initiative and Great Green Wall. The Bank’s vision for the Sahel is of green growth and prosperity based on clean, reliable, and affordable energy systems; the restoration of degraded ecosystems and land; and improved management of natural resources. Accordingly, a comprehensive package of support is being provided to the region. This includes providing access to renewable energy through the Desert to Power program which aims to build 10GW of new solar generation capacity, as well as improving access to climate information service through CDSF. Further to that, the Bank has recently committed a total of $6.5 billion to support the implementation of the Great Green Wall initiative. The initiative plans to plant an 8,000-kilometre-long and 15-kilometre-wide mosaic of trees, grasslands, vegetation, and plants across the Sahara and the Sahel to support the restoration of degraded lands. This will help the region produce adequate food, create jobs, and promote peace. The Bank will also continue to support the transformation of African agriculture into a competitive and inclusive agribusiness sector that creates wealth, improves lives, and secures the environment. For instance, the Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture (ACSA) program has been supporting African countries since 2018 to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and income; adapt and build resilience to climate change; and reduce or remove greenhouse emissions, where possible. Further to that, Bank recognizes the Green growth in Africa — current initiatives and future developments
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