The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has secured a grant of over R700 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support climate change adaptation in the country’s most vulnerable regions.
The funding was approved on the 1st of July 2025 during a GCF Board meeting held in Papua New Guinea. It will support the implementation of the Eco-DRR project, formally titled Scaling up ecosystem-based approaches to managing climate-intensified disaster risks in vulnerable regions of South Africa. The project will be rolled out over eight years and is expected to deliver long-term impact for communities facing increasing climate risks.
According to SANBI, the initiative will directly benefit around 366 000 people and indirectly reach more than 5.1 million South Africans. It will be implemented in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and four district municipalities in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West.
The project focuses on restoring and protecting ecosystems such as wetlands, forests and catchment areas to reduce disaster risks and build local resilience. It also aims to enhance water security and promote sustainable, nature-based livelihoods.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George said the frequency of extreme weather events has increased and that rural and peri-urban communities remain at high risk. He added that the investment would strengthen ecological infrastructure and help build adaptive capacity.
Shonisani Munzhedzi, CEO of SANBI, said healthy ecosystems act as natural defences against climate shocks and play a vital role in protecting lives, infrastructure and livelihoods.
As a Direct Access Entity of the GCF since 2016, SANBI is well positioned to channel international climate finance towards projects that meet national priorities. The Eco-DRR project also contributes to the goals outlined in South Africa’s Climate Change Act and supports the GCF’s 2024 to 2027 targeted results for ecosystems and food systems.
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Picture: Gallo Images
