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Africa: 3 Innovative Ways to Help Countries Hit By Climate Disasters, Beyond a Loss and Damage Fund

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These days, it’s hard to escape news stories discussing how climate change is contributing to extreme weather disasters, including the recent U.S. hurricanes. Aid agencies are increasingly worried about the widespread damage.
A growing question as these disasters worsen in a warming world is how to pay for recoveries, particularly in poorer countries that have contributed the least to climate change.
I am a climate scientist who researches disasters, and I work with disaster managers on solutions to deal with the increasing risk of extreme events. The usual sources of disaster aid funding haven’t come close to meeting the need in hard-hit countries in recent years. So, groups are developing new ways to meet the need more effectively. In some cases, they are getting aid to countries before the damage occurs.
Disaster aid funds aren’t meeting growing need
Countries have a few ways that they typically send money and aid to other countries that need help when disasters hit. They can send direct government-to-government aid, contribute to aid coordinated by the United Nations, or support disaster response efforts by groups like the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
However, the support from these systems is almost never enough.
In 2023, the amount of humanitarian funding through the U.N. was about US$22 billion. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that countries hit hard by disasters actually needed about $57 billion in U.N. humanitarian aid. This does not even include the costs borne directly by disaster-affected people and their governments.
To help address damages specifically from climate change, the global community agreed at the U.N. climate conference in 2022 to create a new method – a Loss and Damage Fund. Loss and damage is generally defined as consequences of climate change that go beyond what people are able to adapt to.
The goal of the fund is for countries that historically have done the most to cause climate change to provide funding to other countries that did little to cause it yet are experiencing increasing climate-related disasters.
So far, however, the Loss and Damage Fund is tiny compared to the cost of climate-related disasters. As of late September 2024, total pledges to the Loss and Damage Fund were about US$700 million. According to one estimate, the costs directly attributable to climate change, including loss of life, are over $100 billion per year.
One goal of the 2024 U.N. climate conference, underway Nov. 11-22 in Azerbaijan, is to increase those contributions.
Sending aid before the disasters hit
In response to these growing needs, the disaster management community is getting creative about how it helps countries finance disaster risk reduction and response.
Traditionally, humanitarian funding arrives after a disaster happens, when photos and videos of the horrible event encourage governments to contribute financial support and a needs assessment has been completed.
However, with today’s technology, it’s possible to forecast many climate-related disasters before they happen, and there is no reason for the humanitarian system to wait to respond until after the disaster happens.
A global network of aid groups and researchers I work with has been developing anticipatory action systems designed to make funding available to countries when an extreme event is forecast but before the disaster hits.
This can allow countries to provide cash for people to use for evacuation when a flood is forecast, open extra medical services when a heat wave is expected, or distribute drought-tolerant seeds when a drought is forecast, for example.
Insurance that pays out early to avoid harm
Groups are also developing novel forms of insurance that can provide predictable finance for these changing catastrophes.
Traditional insurance can be expensive and slow to assess individual claims. One solution is “index insurance” that pays out based on drought information without needing to wait to assess the actual losses.
African nations created an anticipatory drought insurance product that can pay out when the drought starts happening, without waiting for the end of the season to come and the crops to fail. This could, in theory, allow farmers to replant with a drought-resilient crop in time to avoid a failed harvest.
Without insurance, disaster-affected people usually bear the costs of disaster. Therefore, experts recommend insurance as a critical part of an overall strategy for climate change adaptation.
Boosting social protection systems
Another promising area of innovation is the design of social services that can scale up when needed for extreme weather events.
These are called climate-smart social protection systems. For example, existing programs that provide food for low-income families can be scaled up during and after a drought to ensure that people have sufficient and nutritious food during the climate shock.
This requires government coordination among the variety of social services offered, and it offers promise to support vulnerable communities in the face of the rising number of extreme weather events.
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Future of the Loss and Damage Fund
To complement these innovative disaster risk finance mechanisms, aid from other countries is crucial, and the Loss and Damage Fund is a key part of that.
There are still many areas of debate around the U.N.’s Loss and Damage Fund and what counts as true financial support. There have been discussions over whether investing in a country’s resilience to future disasters counts, whether existing financial systems should be used to channel finance to countries in need, and what damages are truly beyond the limits to adaptation and qualify.
The new Loss and Damage Fund is only of a part of a mosaic of initiatives that is seeking to address climate disasters.
These novel mechanisms to finance disaster risk are exciting, but they ultimately need to be created in conjunction with investments in adaptation and resilience so that extreme weather events cause less damage when they happen. Communities will need to plant different crops, build flood drainage systems and live in adaptive buildings. Managing climate risk requires a variety of innovative solutions before, during and after disaster events.
Erin Coughlan de Perez, Professor of Climate Risk Management, Tufts University
This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: Land Is Africa's Best Hope for Climate Adaptation – It Must Be the Focus At COP30

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November 10, 2025

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Agriculture, forestry and other land uses together account for about 62% of Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, land degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss are eroding Africa’s resilience.
But land – especially agriculture – has been on the margins of climate change initiatives. Even at the annual global climate change conference, land hasn’t featured much.
This is changing. In September 2025, Africa’s climate community met in Ethiopia, to agree on the continent’s climate priorities ahead of this year’s global climate conference, COP30. They agreed that land could be Africa’s most powerful tool in tackling climate change.
Much will depend on securing finance at COP30 for agroforestry, forest management and soil carbon restoration projects.
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Read more: Climate crisis is a daily reality for many African communities: how to try and protect them
I’ve been researching land for over 20 years. My research focuses on how to sustainably regenerate land, how community forest enterprises can combat deforestation, and how to rebuild forests as a way of combating climate change.
For this reason, I argue that COP30 must place land restoration and sustainable land management at the heart of the climate agenda. It should recognise that healthy soils, forests and ecosystems are not side issues to climate change. They are the very foundation of economic growth and making the world resilient to climate disasters.
Read more: Climate disasters are escalating: 6 ways South Africa’s G20 presidency can lead urgent action
This is especially critical for Africa, whose people and economies depend so heavily on the land. Agriculture alone, which is intrinsically tied to land, employs over two thirds of Africa’s labour force and typically accounts for 30%-40% of gross domestic product. Yet climate change disasters like prolonged droughts, rising temperatures and destructive floods are steadily eroding the land.
Millions of people in Africa could lose their farms, income, food, and future chances if COP30 does not recognise how land, nature, and climate change are all connected.
Why Africa must prioritise land and nature at COP30
Africa’s agriculture, the backbone of most economies on the continent, has been badly affected by more frequent droughts, floods and unpredictable rainfall. As a result, African countries sometimes lose an estimated 1%-2% of their gross domestic product in a year.
Over half of Africa’s population depends on crops that are fed only by rain. Therefore, extreme weather events hit the majority of Africans directly. At the same time, nearly half of the continent’s land area is degraded.
Read more: Indigenous knowledge systems can be useful tools in the G20’s climate change kit
This affects agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of around 500 million people.
Forest ecosystems such as the Congo Basin, the Guinean forests and Africa’s dryland forests are disappearing rapidly. This is already having devastating consequences for communities that rely on them for food, fuel and income.
Africa must negotiate climate finance with one voice
Adapting to climate change remains Africa’s most urgent priority. The good news is that African countries are already deploying land based actions (adaptation and using land to sequester carbon and reduce emissions) as a weapon against climate change. They are achieving this by expanding agroforestry, restoring wetlands and managing grasslands more sustainably.
This boosts soil health and increases the carbon stored in the ground. These projects are very useful in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, protecting livelihoods and building resilience.
The September 2025 second Africa Climate Summit made the continental emphasis on land official. Its Addis Ababa declaration placed land and nature-based solutions at the centre of Africa’s climate agenda. This was a step forward from Africa’s 2023 climate summit declaration, which made only passing references to land.
Read more: African countries shouldn’t have to borrow money to fix climate damage they never caused – economist
What’s needed now is for Africa to unite and focus on three key climate change areas:
What Africa needs to do at COP30
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Read more: African countries gear up for major push on climate innovation, climate financing and climate change laws
Peter Akong Minang, Director Africa, CIFOR-ICRAF, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: African Union Commission Welcomes and Congratulates the Republic of South Africa As G20 Chair and Host

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November 10, 2025

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1. The African Union Commission (AUC) warmly expresses its support for the Republic of South Africa as G20 Chair and welcomes the country for hosting the G20 Summit in Africa for the first time. This milestone reflects South Africa’s growing role in global governance.
2. As the current Chair of the G20, South Africa has shown exceptional leadership in promoting the priorities of the Global South, advancing sustainable development, and strengthening inclusive global governance.
3. The Republic of South Africa is a vibrant democracy that upholds equality, human rights, and the rule of law. Its Constitution and policies reflect values aligned with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
4. South Africa is a nation rich in diversity, home to people of many races, cultures, languages, and faiths living together in unity. This inclusivity is a source of national strength and global admiration.
5. The African Union encourages all international partners to engage with South Africa and the wider African continent on the basis of mutual respect, truth, and constructive cooperation, supporting Africa’s continued contribution to global peace, development, and prosperity.
Read the original article on African Union.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: Governance Failures, Not Just Guns, Driving W/Africa's Growing Crises – Experts Warn

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November 10, 2025

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Abuja — Experts and peacebuilding stakeholders have raised the alarm that governance failures, weak state institutions, and exclusionary politics, not armed violence alone, are fuelling the wave of instability sweeping across West Africa.
They stressed that restoring lasting peace and security in the region will depend on inclusive governance, stronger regional collaboration, and community-driven solutions.
The warning came at the second edition of the West Africa Peace and Security Dialogue (WaPSED 2025), held in Abuja.
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The event was jointly organised by the Building Blocks for Peace (BBFORPEACE) Foundation, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), the LAC-LAC Network of Niger Republic, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflicts (GPPAC) West Africa, and the Society for Peace and Practice.
Speaking at the opening session, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), said the region’s lingering challenges; from violent extremism and political instability to climate-induced conflicts, highlight the urgent need for inclusive dialogue and homegrown approaches.
“Sustainable peace in West Africa requires strong regional cooperation and locally driven strategies. We must strengthen our institutions, empower communities, and integrate peace education into national development frameworks,” Ochogwu said.
He urged participants to move beyond mere discussions and focus on practical strategies capable of transforming the region’s security and governance landscape.
Also speaking, Mr. Rafiu Adeniran Lawal, Executive Director of the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation and Regional Coordinator of GPPAC West Africa, said the dialogue was convened to explore solutions to the diverse threats undermining stability across the sub-region, ranging from banditry and insurgency to democratic decline and economic hardship.
“Across West Africa, we face persistent herder-farmer clashes, banditry, and insurgency which have disrupted livelihoods and deepened food insecurity.
“Beyond Nigeria, the resurgence of military takeovers in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea reflects a troubling democratic retreat and growing disillusionment with governance,” Lawal noted.
He explained that the 2025 Dialogue, themed ‘Reimagining Peace and Security in West Africa: Local Solutions, Regional Solidarity and Global Partnerships,’ was designed to promote community ownership of peace processes and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.
“Our goal is to centre real actors and lived experiences. By harnessing local knowledge and regional solidarity, we can chart a new course that places people, not power, at the heart of peacebuilding,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies and the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management, University of Ibadan, said the region’s insecurity is deeply rooted in poor governance, weak leadership, and the failure of states to meet citizens’ expectations.
“The problem is not just a lack of weapons to fight insurgents; it is the weakness of our governance systems. Corruption, poor coordination, and elite competition over state resources have created governance vacuums that non-state actors now exploit,” Prof. Albert said.
He argued that lasting solutions require a balanced approach that combines local innovation, regional solidarity, and international support to tackle governance gaps, inequality, and institutional decay.
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“Peace and security cannot be sustained by governments alone. They must be co-owned by citizens, institutions, and regional partners who share a common vision for stability,” he warned.
Prof. Albert also called on governments to prioritise institution-building, promote accountability, and invest in effective local governance structures capable of addressing community-level grievances.
The dialogue brought together policymakers, security experts, civil society organisations, academics, ECOWAS representatives, and members of the diplomatic community.
Participants agreed that rebuilding trust between governments and citizens, strengthening democracy, and promoting transparent governance are essential for lasting peace in the region.
Read the original article on Vanguard.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 110 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC.
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