Building a Resilient Africa: Scaling Land Restoration, Nature-based Solutions and Sustainable Landscapes in Eastern and Southern Africa
This high-level side event will explore what a resilient Africa can look like in practice, drawing on experiences from Eastern and Southern Africa and the CBA SCALE+ initiative, which supports community-led nature-based adaptation informed by the best available science.
As climate change, land degradation and biodiversity loss intensify pressures on ecosystems and communities across Africa, strengthening the resilience of natural systems is essential for sustaining livelihoods, food security and long-term development.
Eastern and Southern Africa are home to diverse ecosystems — from forests and savannas to freshwater and coastal systems — that provide critical services and support millions of livelihoods. Yet these ecosystems and the communities that depend on them are increasingly affected by land degradation, climate variability, biodiversity loss and other socio-economic pressures.
There are already promising solutions. Community-led approaches, Indigenous and local knowledge, Nature-based Solutions and sustainable land management can help restore ecosystems while strengthening resilience and livelihoods. The challenge is to move from fragmented interventions to integrated action at landscape and seascape level, while aligning policies, finance, institutions and partnerships.
The discussion will bring together policymakers, practitioners, donors, community representatives and Indigenous Peoples and local communities to explore how different actors can work together to scale solutions, strengthen regional cooperation and build a shared vision for resilient and sustainable landscapes.
Speakers include:
Mr. Vhalinavho Khavhagali, Country Director, IUCN South Africa
Dr. Elinasi Monga, Regional Head, Land Systems Programme, IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Region
Dr. Guyo M. Roba, Head, Dryland Development Unit, IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Drylands (ICPALD)
Ms. Sibongile Mavimbela, Senior Programme Officer, Environment and Climate Change, SADC
Ms. Beth Roberts, Director, Center for Women’s Land Rights, LANDESA
Dr. Leonard Tampushi, NEMA Kenya
Mr. Simba Mandoto, CoP, CBA SCALE+, IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office
There will also be remarks from government representatives and representatives from Kenya and South Africa.