Nature-based climate adaptation in the Guinean forests of West Africa

The project aims to enhance the adoption of gender-responsive and inclusive Nature-based Solutions for climate change adaptation in the Guinean forests of West Africa. Implemented in Ghana Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire the project takes a systems approach to mitigate key climate challenges through interventions that plan for pilot and scale Nature-based Solutions for climate adaptation that contribute to enhanced biodiversity and gender equality. Project activities include: (1) completing analysing and sharing genetic and environmental DNA (eDNA) based biodiversity assessments; (2) selecting and distributing multipurpose tree species that support gender-responsive climate adaptation and biodiversity; and (3) improving capacity of local businesses women’s organizations and cooperatives to deploy more sustainable gender responsive livelihoods models implemented for Nature-based Solutions with biodiversity benefits. The consortium formed by World University Services Canada (WUSC) and the Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI) is responsible for the implementation of the project with the collaboration of key partners such as ABANTU for Development International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and ICRAF-CIFOR. The project benefits rural forest populations residing in target regions particularly women. The project aims to reach 211 652 beneficiaries (of whom 50% women and 50% men). The project also targets more than 900 intermediaries including actors and stakeholders at different scales representatives of local village leadership national women’s organizations and business owners or leaders policymakers and investors.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved women’s leadership and gender transformative evidence-based and nature-based climate adaptation planning processes in the Guinean forests of the targeted zone; (2) increased and more gender-responsive restoration of degraded forests and key habitats with benefits for biodiversity by rural communities in the Guinean forests of the targeted zone; and (3) increased and gender-responsive investments in Nature-bases Solutions for climate change adaptation with income potential for women and biodiversity benefits in the Guinean forests of the target zone.