Reducing the sting of climate change attrition

Ibrahima Cheikh Diong says that the AU designated it as a specialised agency to address climate disaster risks, confirming the importance of a strengthened climate response for the continent. ARC has significantly increased its relevance within the continent’s disaster risk preparedness architecture.

“In the business of disaster management, as the climate crisis grows, you not only have to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.” 

That means actually delivering on the mandate and offering what may be described as a proof of concept. “When there is a drought or a tropical cyclone and people are dying, you can’t just be technical, you have to actually offer support,” Diong points out. 

In 2024, ARC paid just over $66m to countries affected by climate disasters. Zimbabwe received close to $32m while Malawi received $11.2m to support its recovery from an El Niño induced drought. Using the modelling systems engineered by ARC, early warning systems, in 2022, Madagascar was able to move its people out of a tropical cyclone’s way, saving countless lives. 

These instances, Diong says, are a demonstration of how ARC is walking the walk. “We really turned this mandate into something tangible, building our credibility and a track record of delivery within Africa. The global community also begins to look at us as the voice of Africa in terms of disaster management, and that’s how we raise the profile. 

“Climate emergency management requires concerted efforts from a variety of actors across the world and efforts are being made to progress identified initiatives. We must address the cumbersome processes of accessing climate funds that have the express purpose of helping developing countries to finance their mitigation and adaptation plans, as they mean that some countries are unable to access the considerable funds available. 

“As we seek solutions, we must streamline access to climate finance processes, while supporting countries to build the capacity to conceive and prepare fundable projects.” 

Of concern is that the pledges that have come out of the various Conferences of the Parties (COPs) since Paris in 2015 are often not actualised, which means that there is not enough real money to support developing countries, including those in Africa, to fund their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Accord.

The Global Shield against Climate Change, Diong says, is a new initiative meant to help direct some of the money available from the big funds and countries to vulnerable countries. 

The ARC itself is a major cog in the wheel that directs climate finance to Africa. “ ARC has facilitated premium finance from our donor partners that have come on board to support our work,” Diong says, going on to explain that “premium subsidies are critical in enabling pool participation by countries that would otherwise not be able to afford to participate.” 

Innovative financial instruments such as these are crucial for African countries which may otherwise not be able to effectively respond to climate disasters. “So the whole ecosystem has to work for the developing countries, in what I call the AAA of climate finance – the money has to be available; it has to be accessible; and it has to be affordable.”   

With a growing membership over the last four years – 39 African countries are now signed up – ARC is becoming better recognised both in Africa and by the international community as an indispensable component in the continent’s toolkit. 

“In fact,” Diong recalls, “it was Macky Sall, then chairman of the AU (and President of Senegal at the time), who said if we don’t empower our own organisations, no one will believe in us.” 

Africa is ready to lead in addressing its own exposure to climate change with innovation and commitment. 

Understanding that there are varying needs and diversifying its offerings in response has also helped boost ARC’s work. Over the last four years, Diong reports, ARC has developed different products for the various climate disaster risks, and “this has enabled us to offer customised service to member states.” 

Tailor-made solutions

At a time when countries are stretched to their fiscal ends, ARC’s interventions are a welcome fillip. “We have an operational plan that will guide a government’s response to a disaster, and we know ahead of time how the resources will be used. We are able to profile the risk and give governments the power to decide what to do with the risk,” Diong explains. 

Fortunately, Diong says, African leaders are now paying closer attention to the disaster risks that the continent, like much of the world, faces. “At the continental level,” he reports, “the AU has set up a flood situation room, where you have a number of people in a room collecting data across the continent so they can predict where the next floods may occur.” This information is made available to countries for governments to prepare and make plans.

Disaster response requires a concerted effort from all players, including policymakers, who must mainstream disaster preparedness. “In much the same way that you have your public policy on infrastructure, energy and agriculture, you must also have a climate public policy,” he says. 

ARC helps by making data and modelling available so that leaders can make informed decisions that can save lives and preserve livelihoods. 

For governments trying to prioritise spending in times of scarcity, committing funds to address events that may or may not happen can appear less urgent than building schools, hospitals and paying off loans. Diong insists, however, that it is money well spent. With climate disasters come the economic losses that governments are apprehensive of and without the support of an insurance product, those losses can be exacerbated, especially for the most vulnerable.

ARC is also intentional in driving for inclusivity in all its work through its gender mainstreaming initiative. Diong points out that women are often the most vulnerable during disaster events, even selling off their assets to keep the family going when help does not come quickly enough in times of disaster.

“That’s why we insist on including women when we develop our operational plans, seeking to understand how they will benefit from the response; when do they benefit and how we capture that to show that it has been impactful. We also encourage governments to include women in their own strategies,” he says. 

ARC has a gender transformation fund and continually engages with countries on their strategies to centre women in their climate response plans and address the unique challenges that they face.  

Boost from Loss and Damage Fund 

Another boost for Africa’s climate response came during COP27 at Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt in 2022 when an agreement was finally reached on a Loss and Damage Fund, through which industrialised economies, which are the most responsible for driving climate change, will support developing economies to deal with its consequences. 

Apprehensive that accepting responsibility for climate change would trigger other legal consequences, developed countries had dragged their feet for an inordinate period. However, with this agreement and imminent operationalisation, another funding source will be potentially open for African countries.

Some $661m has been committed to it and a board that will have equal representation from both developed and developing countries has been set up to administer the Fund, which will be hosted by the World Bank for the first four years. 

However, Diong notes that much will depend on the model that is deployed. The Fund must take account of the lessons from other funds and ensure that money can be sent to where it’s needed as soon as it’s needed. 

Indeed, lessons can come from ARC itself. “The reason why we are successful is that before the end of the season, we can determine, through our operational plan, who will need help in the event of a disaster – so we have a plan where the money will go,” he explains. 

In addition, the money is sent to a dedicated account where it cannot be used for any other purpose. A monitoring and evaluation system is also in place to measure the impact of interventions. “They don’t have to reinvent the wheel; they can leverage on players who are operational and have been tested, like ARC,” he proposes. 

These and other conversations could take centre stage at COP29, set for November in Baku, Azerbaijan. It is important, Diong is quick to point out, that the original pledge of $661m actually pales into insignificance when compared with the real needs it is meant to address, which are estimated to cost in the trillions of dollars. 

With Baku’s focus on climate finance, Diong believes that it will be an ideal setting within which to make the case for considerable expansion of the Loss and Damage Fund. 

He also wants a recognition that developing green economies is an indispensable counterpart to building climate resilience. “Investing in the green economy contributes to mitigation and it must be understood that any climate funding from GCF must be catalytic. These monies will help to open doors so that you can get more investment,” he emphasises.     

Ultimately, in Diong’s view, Africa wants a COP29 where there is more action to back the words that have been spoken at previous editions of the UN-backed event. 

“We want to go to a COP where commitments are honoured; a COP where you leverage existing institutions that work well and empower them; a COP where you scale up climate finance. I think that what developing countries, Africa included, want is to hold people accountable to the commitments that they make.” 

He adds that technical assistance that would help countries to build sophisticated modelling and early warning systems so they can take informed decisions on climate change would also be very welcome. 

Four years into his tenure at the head of ARC, Diong says he has learnt that leadership, governance and strategy are critical for success in the organisation’s mission. Recalling that he took over in the midst of a pandemic, he points out that he had to “lead despite the challenge of Covid-19. That means you had to do whatever it takes to make sure that Africa is not left out when climate issues are being discussed.” 

On governance, he notes that Africa must be seen to be running its own show, even if it has to count on the support of external partners. “We have to demonstrate that we are building sustainability and that over time, we can reduce dependence on others and do it on our own.” A demand-driven strategy will ensure that resources are properly targeted and make the desired impact. 

ARC itself, he says, will continue to innovate and pursue sustainable solutions to a challenge that will only loom larger in the coming years. 

He concludes, “We have to continue to innovate in the products that we develop; innovate in the way we respond to crises, and build the capacity of countries so they can be at the forefront themselves.” Only then, perhaps, will Africa begin walking the talk of African solutions for Africa’s climate problems.