In February 2025, the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) approved funds to support the Nature, People and Climate (NPC) investment plan in the Zambezi region, a key region milestone that reflects close cooperation from governments in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.
The approved CIF funding totals $60.35 million, supporting two major projects across the basin. The African Development Bank will receive $38 million from the CIF for integration projects to enhance climate-sensitive food, livelihoods and ecosystems across the region. Additionally, $19 million has been allocated to lead the World Bank’s locally focused investment in Malawi’s community and ecosystem resilience.
NPC IP focuses on three areas of intervention.
Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries Wildlife and Forest Management Integrated Water Resources and Coastal and Wetland Management
Still, an additional $733.9 million will be needed over the next five years to implement a six-component, nature-based solution, including promoting sustainable forest revitalization and increasing resilience of communities and agricultural systems.
The Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-longest, spans 1,390,000 square kilometers, is essential for the region’s biodiversity and economy. Despite the significant contributions of agriculture to the livelihoods of the rural population of the basin, the sector faces many challenges, including limited irrigation and the need for sustainable land management.
The Zambezi Region NPC IP was developed under the guidance of basin countries, including the Zambezi Waterway Commission (Zamcom), to address these challenges through nature-based solutions, to support the support from the CIF Secretariat and technical assistance of the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group.
Karl Schletwein, chairman of the Zamcom Ministerial Conference, said:
“The Zambezi waterways are the lifeline of our region, home to 51 million people, rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems. The Zambezi Regional NPC IP represents a transformative vision to address climate change, environmental degradation and socioeconomic shocks over the next five years.”
Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, said, “As the leading multilateral development bank of the Zambezi River Basin Project, the African Development Bank is committed to working with partners to restore critical ecosystems and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
Felix Moshi Ngamragosi, Executive Director of Zamcom, said: “This important step marks an important milestone in our collective efforts to build a sustainable and resilient future for the Zambezi River Basin.
Collins Nzob, Minister of Water Development and Sanitation in Zambia, said: “The Nature, People and Climate Investment Plan for the Zambezi Region is an important step in building sustainable and climate-giving communities in our region on the Zambezi River.
With support from the CIF, the initiative will enhance adaptation capabilities, promote sustainable economic opportunities, and enhance community resilience across the basin. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to drive impactful solutions that balance nature, people and climate in this critical via ecosystem. ”
Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Higino Francisco de Marle said, “The approval of the Nature, People and Climate Investment Plan for the Zambezi region represents an important milestone in our collective commitment to building resilience and sustainable development in Zambezi waterways.
As Zamcom’s riverbank province, Mozambique has benefited from this strategic initiative, strengthening food security, strengthening climate adaptation and supporting the livelihoods of the entire community. With the support of Climate Investment Funds, we are mobilizing critical investments to promote local cooperation, protect natural resources and ensure a prosperous future for our people. ”
In December 2024, the CIF approved a $34.65 million NPC investment plan to exploit Zambia’s natural transformation potential for sustainable climate change, which is expected to generate more than $220 million to increase the low-carbon climate economy, agricultural productivity and forest conservation.
Approximately 70% of Zambia’s population is highly vulnerable to climate shocks, as it relies on agriculture for its livelihood. Increasingly unpredictable rainfall and temperature fluctuations have exacerbated high levels of food insecurity across the country.
Both investment plans highlight community engagement, the importance of sustainable land management, and the conservation of natural resources to achieve long-term environmental and socioeconomic benefits. These plans aim to create resilient, sustainable socioecological systems that benefit people and nature by addressing climate change and environmental degradation in a way that is integrated.
