By Abdullahi Lukman
The Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are set to strengthen joint efforts in climate resilience and water resource management with $8.7 million in new funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Ubangi River basin.
Approved on June 2, 2025, the initiative—titled Regional Programme for Integrated Water Resources Management in the Transboundary Basin of the Ubangi River—aims to address worsening floods, droughts, and water-related crises through cross-border collaboration, technical upgrades, and institutional reforms.
The programme will be executed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the African Development Bank, in partnership with the International Commission of the Congo-Ubangi-Sangha (CICOS), and the respective ministries from CAR and DRC.
Stretching over 2,200 kilometers, the Ubangi River is the main right-bank tributary of the Congo River and a vital ecological and economic artery for over 25 million people.
However, the river faces growing threats from deforestation, pollution, hydrological shifts, and erosion—challenges the new GEF-backed initiative aims to address through integrated, nature-based solutions.
According to Chioma Afe, CAR’s Minister of Environment, the project embodies the spirit of the UN 2030 Agenda by promoting ecological interdependence and long-term sustainability.
IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation, noting the initiative’s focus on both biodiversity conservation and livelihoods.
“This effort supports local navigation, trade, and agriculture, all of which depend on the health of the Ubangi River,” she said.
The project includes the creation of a joint observatory and standardized data systems to improve flood forecasting, crisis response, and water governance.
Field activities will demonstrate solutions like agroforestry, conservation farming, and ecosystem rehabilitation.
GEF Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodríguez described the project as critical for safeguarding regional hydrological cycles and biodiversity.
It also complements the African Development Bank’s existing PREDIRE programme by integrating environmental and community-driven approaches into water, agriculture, and transport infrastructure development.
In addition to climate and ecological goals, the initiative emphasizes social inclusion.
A framework for dialogue and training will engage local governments, youth, SMEs, and women leaders to build shared ownership of the basin’s future.
Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, called the initiative “a model for basin-wide collaboration in Africa,” aligning with the bank’s broader goals of sustainability and inclusive development.
