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Bridging the Adaptation Finance Gap Across Africa
jschoshinski
Thu, 11/21/2024 – 13:58
This blog is the first in a series highlighting USAID Climate Adaptation Support Activity (CASA) support for the African Adaptation Initiative (AAI). Launched by African heads of state at COP21, AAI is the African Union’s primary adaptation vehicle to bridge the climate finance gap. Stay tuned for the rest of the series, which will explore how CASA collaborates with partners to enhance climate resilience across sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the worst impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts, devastating floods, and rising temperatures, threaten food security, water availability, and overall socioeconomic development across the region.
The continent has contributed less than four percent of the global accumulation of GHG, but we are suffering the most. On top of that, we have the least resources to respond.
Souad Mourid, Head of Programs and Partnerships at AAI
As leaders gather in Azerbaijan for COP29, climate finance remains a priority conversation for governments, donors, and other stakeholders. Access to finance is a critical adaptation bottleneck across USAID partner countries in Africa. Limited capacity and resources to develop proposals coupled with complex proposal requirements and high competition for limited funds have resulted in only a fraction of the available funding reaching the region.
UNEP found that developing countries’ climate adaptation finance needs are more than 50 percent higher than previously estimated. In sub-Saharan Africa, the annual adaptation finance needs were up to $96 billion in 2023. By 2030, the number is estimated to reach $579 billion. By 2035, it could reach $845 billion—the highest of any region globally.
Without resources to build resilience, progress across the Sustainable Development Goals is faltering—we are seeing heightened food insecurity, water scarcity, migration, and even worse gender and education outcomes. With more frequent heat waves, some girls in Africa may stop going to school. It’s a complicated reality to face.
Souad Mourid, Head of Programs and Partnerships at AAI
As the world’s largest multilateral climate finance mobilizer, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has committed $61.5 billion in financing and co-financing for projects across more than 100 countries with the goal of achieving parity between adaptation and mitigation. A reported 36 percent of those funds have been allocated to African countries.
AAI is African-led and strongly rooted in existing African institutions, including two of its implementing partners, Togo-based Sustainable Solutions for Africa (SSA) and Morocco-headquartered United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA).
In line with USAID’s commitment to the Principles for Locally Led Adaptation and its targets to direct 25 percent of its funding directly to local partners by 2025 and ensure half of USAID programming has local leadership by 2030, CASA is partnering with SSA and UCLGA to lead AAI’s climate finance innovation, online finance capacity building, and technical capacity to build successful proposals for GCF funding.
“The GCF has limited funds, and huge competition exists for what they offer. One of the biggest barriers for African governments, banks, and local institutions is the capacity to build successful proposals,” explains Sandra Freitas, CEO and Founder of SSA.
Through its partnerships with SSA and UCLGA, CASA is providing AAI the direct support needed to achieve its core goal of doubling the amount of adaptation finance accessed and mobilized by African countries. The tools and trainings developed by SSA will help eligible institutions gain accreditation and submit proposals for more than $100 million in adaptation finance by 2027.
This work demonstrates how initial investment in the enabling environment and capacity strengthening of regional and national climate finance entities result in exponential gains in climate finance for the region long-term, ensuring more sustainable climate finance programming.
Unlocking capital across the continent will build climate resiliency in geographies most vulnerable to climate impacts, contributing towards USAID’s goals for locally led adaptation and USAID’s Climate Strategy Intermediate Result 1.3 for more equitable access to climate finance.
Teaser Text
As leaders gather in Azerbaijan for COP29, climate finance remains a priority conversation for governments, donors, and other stakeholders. Access to finance is a critical adaptation bottleneck across USAID partner countries in Africa.
Publish Date
Thu, 11/21/2024 – 12:00
Author(s)
Hannah Blair
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Empowering Young Farmers in Tanzania with Climate Smart Technologies
Blog Type
Blog Post
Strategic Objective
Adaptation
Region
Africa
Topic
Adaptation
Climate
Climate Finance
Climate Strategy
Climate Strategy Implementation
Climate Finance and Economic Growth
Inclusive Development
Locally-Led Development
Partnership
Resilience
Training
Sectors
Adaptation
Climate Finance
Projects
Climate Adaptation Support Activity (CASA)
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As global cities embrace the potential of ‘smart’ technology, from optimised traffic management to advanced energy grids, the allure of a more efficient, sustainable and digitally connected urban landscape is becoming a reality.
However, with these advancements come significant cybersecurity challenges that cities must address to ensure the promise of innovation is not overshadowed by the risk of threats. To build the resilient, sustainable cities of tomorrow, cybersecurity must be integrated as a core principle in every step of development.
The evolution of smart cities
Smart cities represent a groundbreaking shift in urban planning and management. These cities integrate advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G networks to improve city services such as traffic management, waste collection, energy distribution and emergency response.
Countries like Singapore, South Korea and Germany are leading the way, investing billions in smart city technologies. China, as part of its ‘Made in China 2025’ initiative, has outlined an ambitious Smart Cities Development Plan to modernise its urban infrastructure.
Yet, as investment increases, so does the risk. The interconnected nature of smart cities presents an attractive target for cybercriminals, with critical infrastructure systems — such as energy, health care and transportation — vulnerable to cyber attacks that could ripple across the urban landscape.
Key cyberthreats facing smart cities
The list of cybersecurity threats faced by smart cities is diverse. Some have the potential to cause significant disruption to services and cause damage and loss for residents. Some of the most significant include:
Ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure:
Ransomware attacks on city systems are escalating as cybercriminals capitalise on the growing digital footprint of urban infrastructure. Municipalities worldwide have experienced system lockdowns, where attackers demand ransom payments to restore access to critical services.
Public safety system attacks:
Emergency systems, video surveillance and gunshot detection technologies are indispensable for public safety in smart cities. Unfortunately, these systems are prime targets for cyber attacks.
A survey conducted by UC Berkeley’s Centre for Long-Term Cybersecurity1 highlighted emergency alert systems as particularly vulnerable within smart city infrastructure. An attack on these systems could result in widespread panic or delayed response to genuine emergencies.
Data breaches and privacy concerns:
Smart cities collect vast amounts of data on their citizens, from travel patterns to health details. The widespread use of sensors and IoT devices makes these data pools tempting targets for hackers. A successful breach could lead to identity theft, financial fraud and diminished trust in public institutions.
Water supply and sanitation threats:
Attacks targeting water supply systems are a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within smart city infrastructure. In 2021, hackers attempted to poison the water supply in Oldsmar, Florida, by altering chemical treatment levels. Although thwarted, the incident underscored the dangers posed to critical infrastructure by cyberthreats.
Cyberthreats transcend borders
The interconnected nature of smart cities amplifies the potential impact of cyber attacks, extending beyond individual municipalities. A breach in one city could have cascading effects on neighbouring regions and even disrupt international systems.
For example, a successful attack on a city’s energy grid could affect hospitals, schools and essential services over a wide area. A breach in transportation infrastructure could delay shipments, disrupting global supply chains.
Beyond financial losses, a successful cyber attack can also erode public trust in digital infrastructure, potentially slowing the adoption of smart city technologies that are essential for achieving sustainability goals.
Preparing for tomorrow’s cybersecurity threats
Building resilient smart cities requires comprehensive cybersecurity measures that address vulnerabilities across infrastructure, data and citizen engagement. Key strategies include:
1. Adopting a ‘secure-by-design’ approach:
Cities should embrace a secure-by-design strategy, ensuring cybersecurity is integrated from the earliest stages of technology deployment. This involves rigorous risk assessments and the use of encryption, multi-factor authentication and regular software updates.
2. Cross-sector collaboration:
Protecting smart cities from cyberthreats requires collaboration between government, private sector and technology providers. By sharing threat intelligence and co-ordinating on cybersecurity protocols, public and private entities can respond swiftly to cyber incidents.
3. Investing in cybersecurity talent:
As demand for cybersecurity experts rises, cities must invest in developing a skilled workforce. Governments, educational institutions and businesses should collaborate to create training programs that equip professionals with the skills needed to protect smart city infrastructures.
4. Citizen awareness and cyber hygiene:
Engaging citizens in cybersecurity efforts is crucial for creating a safe digital environment. Public awareness campaigns can teach residents about recognising phishing attempts, securing their devices and reporting suspicious activities. Empowering citizens to practice good cyber hygiene strengthens a city’s overall security.
Building resilient smart cities
The potential of smart cities is vast, offering enhanced quality of life, greater efficiency and sustainable urban living. However, without addressing cybersecurity risks, these benefits could be undermined by significant threats.
By prioritising cybersecurity as a fundamental component of smart city development, cities worldwide can build resilient infrastructures that protect citizens, sustain public trust, and lay the groundwork for a safer, more connected future.
Les Williamson is Regional Director Australia and New Zealand at Check Point Software Technologies, a cybersecurity platform provider of AI-powered, cloud delivered solutions. He has more than three decades of sales and leadership experience in the IT industry, having previously been Head of the AWS Telecommunications Business Unit for Asia Pacific and Japan as well as Vice President for ANZ at Citrix. In addition, he worked for Cisco Systems for more than 10 years in a variety of roles, including as Vice President Asia Pacific.
1. https://cltc.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Smart_City_Cybersecurity.pdf
Top image credit: iStock.com/gremlin
