AfDB Backs $4.23 Million Initiative to Quantify Africa’s Natural Wealth

Running from October 2026 through September 2029, the project targets a fundamental change in development financing. Participating countries—including Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—will implement new statistical systems designed to value forests, water resources, and biodiversity. By integrating these metrics into policy, governments hope to secure more accurate economic risk ratings and attract targeted green investment.

The effort relies on a coalition of global stakeholders, including the World Wildlife Fund, Germany’s GIZ, and the United Nations Environment Programme. These partners will provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help local institutions manage their ecological assets. Innocent Onah, Chief Natural Resources Officer at the AfDB, emphasized that this data-driven approach is a prerequisite for long-term growth. According to Onah, better management of natural wealth serves as a catalyst for GDP expansion, poverty reduction, and improved competitiveness. The program ultimately seeks to move beyond traditional accounting, providing leaders with the evidence needed to balance industrial development with environmental resilience.