Strengthening SUNCASA Evidence for GESI-Responsive Urban Nature-based Solutions:

Background The Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) project aims to enhance climate resilience, gender equality, social inclusion (GESI), and biodiversity protection across three cities: Dire Dawa (Ethiopia), Kigali (Rwanda), and Johannesburg (South Africa). This initiative is led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in partnership with the World Resources Institute, together with local partners. The main objective of SUNCASA is to address climate-induced risks (e.g., floods, landslides, and soil erosion) by implementing GESI-responsive nature-based solutions (NbS). This is aimed at strengthening the resilience of urban communities, watersheds, and biodiversity from the impacts of climate change, while reducing barriers to NbS participation among women and the underrepresented groups. This would be achieved through targeted interventions such as afforestation and reforestation programs, agroforestry, urban greening, and establishment of vegetated buffer zones in affected areas. The project was launched in late 2023, and implementation will be completed by late 2026. Despite growing interest and investment in urban NbS, relatively little evidence exists regarding how gender-responsive approaches to NbS influence project effectiveness, sustainability, governance, and equity outcomes. Gender-responsive approaches to NbS under SUNCASA are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address and challenge gender and social inequalities to promote equity, justice, and inclusion. This intersectional approach also considers diverse knowledge systems, including local knowledge, that result in equitable benefits from decision making and participation in NbS. As the project nears completion, SUNCASA offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the evidence base on how GESI-responsive NbS contribute to larger climate adaptation and biodiversity protection