Danish Support to the ENACT Partnership 2025–2030

The global mandate for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to accelerate climate action has never been stronger — yet the countries that need these solutions most face the greatest barriers to implementing them. Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, often lack the financial resources, institutional capacity, and technical expertise to turn NbS ambition into action.

This project, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida) and implemented through the ENACT Partnership and IUCN, directly addresses this gap. Running from 2025 to 2030, it supports ODA-eligible Sub-Saharan African countries in accelerating the adoption and implementation of NbS for climate adaptation — placing nature at the heart of resilient, inclusive development.

Objective

The project's central objective is to support ODA-eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in accelerating the implementation and ambition of NbS within the context of sustainable and inclusive development for climate resilience. It aligns with and contributes to the ENACT Partnership Operational Roadmap 2025–2030, with NbS for Adaptation and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as a central pillar of climate transformation.

Specifically, the project aims to:

• Influence international policy and support national implementation for NbS for transformational adaptation in the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), aligned with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Accelerate NbS and EbA implementation with climate-proofing outcomes;
• Increase NbS ambition in policy and regulatory frameworks;
• Strengthen governance and mobilise climate finance for NbS for adaptation; and
• Mainstream NbS for adaptation into development plans and budgets, consistent with the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and climate-resilient SDGs.
   

Theory of Change

The project's Theory of Change holds that if ODA-eligible countries are supported in accelerating NbS for climate action and resilience — through strengthened capacity, knowledge, and skills, and raised ambitions for gender equality, social development, and biodiversity outcomes — then the enabling environment for leadership, coordination, and climate finance mobilisation will be reinforced. This will mainstream climate action into wider development plans and budgets, leading to the increased adoption and implementation of NbS for adaptation and EbA as a central pillar of transformative climate-biodiversity action and sustainable development.

The NAbSA Framework

A cornerstone of the project's implementation approach is the NAbSA Operational Framework — a co-designed, practitioner-focused decision-making support system that equips implementers and decision-makers with the data and tools needed to make informed, inclusive, and sustainable choices. Built on learning from over 150 organisations across 30 countries, the NAbSA dashboard integrates AI-supported analytics to assess action options, estimate costs, and quantify economic impact. The project will pilot-test this dashboard in partner countries, linking it to ENACT's global goals tracking and IUCN's NbS Navigator platform.
 

Expected Outcomes

Partner countries supported through this project will be positioned to:

• Mainstream NbS for adaptation and resilience in NDC 3.0, NAPs, and Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) implementation and investment plans, aligned with the NAbSA Operational Framework;
• Enhance interinstitutional coordination to catalyse the implementation of transformative NbS policies for adaptation and resilience;
• Mobilise public and private finance for NbS to support adaptation and resilience;
• Receive guided support in implementing NbS for adaptation with climate and development outcomes across priority subsectors; and
• Become global leaders on NbS — influencing international policy across the Rio Conventions and building partnerships with country peers across regions.
   

ENACT's Broader Vision

This project contributes to ENACT's overarching goals of protecting the resilience of at least 1 billion vulnerable people (including 500 million women and girls), securing up to 2.4 billion hectares of ecosystem integrity, and significantly increasing global nature-based mitigation efforts through the protection, conservation, and restoration of carbon-rich ecosystems.
 

Access the ENACT Partnership’s website for more information. Subscribe to ENACT's newsletter or follow IUCN's Climate & Energy LinkedIn page to stay up to date. Contact [email protected] for more information.