Eastern and Southern Africa - Innovative Regional Multi-layered Financial Solutions to Protect Nations from Disasters

Overview & Synopsis

Countries across Eastern and Southern Africa are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related disasters that exact a heavy toll on people and economies. According to the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN), many of these countries rank among the most climate-vulnerable in the world. El Niño events bring extreme temperatures, dry spells, and drought, while La Niña leads to excessive rainfall and widespread flooding. In recent years, the region has faced a growing number of severe and often transboundary disasters, including cyclones, floods, and prolonged droughts, that have repeatedly displaced millions and disrupted livelihoods. Major storms such as Idai, Kenneth, Eloise, Freddy, and Chido between 2019 and 2024 collectively affected tens of millions of people across Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, and neighboring countries. In the same period, prolonged droughts in Angola, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe pushed 27 million people into food insecurity and left 21 million children malnourished. These escalating climate shocks undermine livelihoods, constrain economic opportunities, and exacerbate migration, conflicts, and social instability.