The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has emerged as a key player in promoting nature-based solutions (NBS) for addressing climate change and conserving biodiversity globally. By leveraging the power of natural systems, AFD supports sustainable, cost-effective approaches to solving some of society’s most pressing challenges, from food security to health and environmental resilience.



Nature-based solutions, recognized within the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aim to enhance the ecosystem services that sustain human life. These services range from regulating air and water quality to bolstering soil health and providing natural defenses against natural disasters. For instance, mangroves, one of nature’s most effective carbon sinks, also provide habitats for numerous species, protect coastlines from erosion, and buffer communities from tsunamis. Despite their value, NBS are often overlooked due to regulatory barriers, funding limitations, and misconceptions about their reliability compared to traditional “gray” infrastructure.

In recent years, AFD has intensified its commitment to NBS, with a focus on integrating climate and biodiversity objectives across all its projects. Starting in 2021, AFD has aligned its initiatives with global standards, providing support to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to develop a Global Standard for Nature-Based Solutions. This framework enables project designers and investors to better understand and evaluate the effectiveness of NBS, ensuring projects are impactful and meet quality standards.

AFD’s financing efforts reach diverse geographies. In Senegal, the commune of Pout benefits from €6 million in financing to improve groundwater recharge through NBS approaches like planting windbreaks, promoting agroecology, and restoring vegetation along watercourses. Similarly, in Asia, AFD’s collaboration with the Asian Development Bank aims to mobilize private sector investment through the Nature Solutions Finance Hub, which drives high-impact projects across Asia and the Pacific by developing innovative financing and sharing best practices.

AFD’s Ecopronat program further advances this mission by supporting pro-nature research and action plans worldwide. It focuses on restoring wetlands in Uganda, pioneering urban NBS projects in Rwanda and Ethiopia, and scaling successful projects across Latin America.

In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, AFD champions nature-based solutions as flexible, adaptable, and ultimately cost-effective means of fostering sustainable development. With nature as an ally, AFD is investing in a future where ecological and human resilience go hand-in-hand.
•
•
3 w
AFD’s involvement in promoting nature-based solutions is a testament to its commitment to tackling the intertwined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development
•
•
1 w
@rashid_kamau absolutely... AFD's commitment is admirable and encouraging...
•
•
3 w
Endorsing nature based solutions can help us understand the planet more especially in wanting moments
•
•
3 w
@annett_michuki By integrating natural processes and ecosystems into our strategies for climate resilience, we can unlock both ecological and human-centered benefits.
•
•
1 w
@annett_michuki i agree... It is only Wise to use nature to heal nature .. NBS is the right option to fight climate change
•
•
1 w
@rashid_kamau well said... NBS will definitely have a significant effect on solving the problems the world is facing
•
•
3 w
By focusing on sustainable practices, AFD will help address environmental challenges while promoting biodiversity and resilience in communities around the world.
•
•
1 w
@walter_lungayi i agree... Their commitment is admirable and it will have a huge impact on the fight against climate change
•
•
3 w
These are the kind of investments that we do need inoder to make the world a better place for us all.
•
•
1 w
@jane_wangui i agree đź’Ż... With more of such we will be able to achieve the goals we intend to
•
•
3 w
investing in a future where ecological and human resilience go hand-in-hand is what we all should do at these critical moments.
•
•
3 w
@rosebellendiritu At these critical moments, choosing to invest in a future where ecological health and human resilience go hand-in-hand is not just an ideal it's a necessity.
•
•
1 w
@rosebellendiritu i agree... We need such especially during this time of climate change and its impacts
•
•
1 w
@rashid_kamau well said ... In this era it is a necessity to have a healthy ecosystem and community
•
•
3 w
This framework enables project designers and investors to better understand and evaluate the effectiveness of NBS, ensuring projects are impactful and meet quality standards.đź’Żđź’Ż
•
•
3 w
@kelvin_thuranira_kaberia you are right
•
•
1 w
@kelvin_thuranira_kaberia and will encourage more investments because of its broad benefits
•
•
3 w
It’s impressive how they’re taking an approach that’s not just about mitigating climate change but also protecting biodiversity on a global scale.
•
•
1 w
@princess_nel_268 literally killing two birds with one stone