Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa: Insights from 12 Countries on Floods, Droughts, and Resilience

Illustrative Image: Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa: Insights from 12 Countries on Floods, Droughts, and Resilience
Image Source & Credit: UNJ
Ownership and Usage Policy

A recent study by Saber et al. (2025) titled “A comprehensive review of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Africa“, published in Journal of Water and Climate Change, reveals that flooding and water scarcity are among the most devastating climate-related disasters, while agriculture and energy remain the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

“

African countries advance climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, yet weak institutions, limited funding, and growing vulnerabilities keep them highly exposed.
– Saber et al. 2025

The study provides an in-depth analysis of how 12 African countries—Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Benin, Ethiopia, Comoros, Malawi, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Kenya—are responding to the escalating threats of climate change and climate-related disasters. Its core purpose is to evaluate existing climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, identify vulnerabilities and policy gaps, and highlight effective measures for strengthening resilience across the continent. Africa is already experiencing profound climate impacts. Uganda, Ethiopia, and Malawi are particularly vulnerable to recurring floods and prolonged droughts, while Mali and Senegal are struggling with intensifying desertification. Nigeria, Kenya, and Mali face major agricultural losses due to drought, threatening food security and livelihoods. Across the continent, flooding and water scarcity are among the most devastating climate-related disasters, while agriculture and energy remain the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, health systems are strained by climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria and meningitis, further compounding the challenges.

The study identifies several recurring barriers that hinder effective response, including weak institutional capacity, limited funding, and low levels of public awareness. Despite these challenges, a range of adaptation and mitigation strategies are being implemented. Countries are investing in early warning systems (EWS) that integrate satellite data with community-level reporting, adopting climate-smart agricultural practices such as drought-resistant crops, irrigation systems, and soil conservation techniques, and promoting afforestation and reforestation programs to counter desertification. Renewable energy initiatives are being scaled up to cut emissions, while community-based disaster preparedness and decentralised governance approaches are fostering local resilience. Notably, gender-sensitive strategies are also being applied to empower women as key actors in climate adaptation.

The study underscores the importance of regional and global cooperation. For example, transboundary collaboration is critical in addressing shared challenges such as flooding in the Congo Basin. Furthermore, access to international financing, including mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund, is proving vital for supporting adaptation and mitigation projects. African countries have also reaffirmed their commitment to international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aligning national actions with global climate goals.

How the Study was Conducted

The study employed a systematic review methodology guided by the PRISMA framework (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) to ensure transparency, replicability, and rigor in both the selection and analysis of literature. Research was conducted using multiple databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, with carefully constructed search strings incorporating terms such as “climate change adaptation,” “GHG emission reduction,” “climate flood,” “climate drought,” and “national adaptation plan,” combined through Boolean operators (AND/OR).

From an initial 674 records, the screening process involved removing duplicates, irrelevant works, book chapters, literature reviews, and unpublished studies, resulting in a refined dataset of 257 peer-reviewed studies directly addressing climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Africa. The review focused on 12 African countries—Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Benin, Ethiopia, Comoros, Malawi, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Kenya—chosen for their ecological diversity, socio-economic and political variations, and differing levels of climate vulnerability.

The authors employed data analysis using thematic coding, which categorized findings into key areas: climate-related disasters, biophysical vulnerabilities, socio-economic impacts, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and adaptation measures. To enhance comprehensiveness, citation tracking (both backward and forward) was used to capture additional relevant studies. The authors further employed analytical tools to assess historical climate trends (rainfall and temperature), evaluate the implementation status of NAPs, measure the effectiveness of adaptation strategies, and identify existing gaps and synergies across the selected countries.

What the Authors Found

The authors found that while African countries are making progress through adaptation measures, disaster risk reduction strategies, and international cooperation, their efforts remain severely constrained by weak institutions, inadequate funding, fragmented governance, and growing climate vulnerabilities, leaving the continent highly exposed to intensifying climate-related disasters and socio-economic risks.

Why is this important

Africa’s Climate Vulnerability: Despite contributing less than 4% of global GHG emissions, Africa faces some of the harshest climate impacts, including floods, droughts, and desertification, which threaten lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

Escalating Human and Economic Costs: Climate change is intensifying food insecurity, spreading climate-sensitive diseases, and driving displacement and poverty, particularly in agriculture-dependent, coastal, and arid regions.

Policy Gaps and Barriers: While many countries have National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), implementation is hindered by weak institutions, inadequate funding, and limited public awareness, leaving communities highly exposed.

Opportunities for Resilience and Global Relevance: Innovative solutions—such as early warning systems, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and gender-inclusive adaptation—offer scalable pathways that not only strengthen Africa’s resilience but also provide lessons for other vulnerable regions worldwide.

What the Authors Recommended

• The study emphasises developing region-specific early warning systems (EWS) using satellite, meteorological, and community data, with a strong focus on floods and droughts in high-risk countries.
• The authors advocate expanding climate-smart agriculture with drought-resistant crops, irrigation, and soil conservation, while advancing integrated water resource management, including rainwater harvesting and transboundary basin cooperation.
• Prioritise reforestation, erosion control, and agroecological practices to combat desertification, while increasing access to international climate finance and fostering public-private partnerships for local adaptation.
• Expand healthcare capacity for climate-sensitive diseases, improve disease surveillance, and build stronger governance structures. Raise public awareness through education, community training, and integration of indigenous knowledge.
• In addition, the study ought to improve cross-border coordination for disaster response, climate data sharing, and regional initiatives, while investing in resilient infrastructure and alternative livelihoods for vulnerable and displaced populations.

In conclusion, the study highlights that while African nations are making strides in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, stronger governance, increased financing, and enhanced regional cooperation are essential to build lasting resilience and safeguard communities against escalating climate threats.