SUNCASA | Resilient Cities. Natural Solutions.
Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) is a 3-year project that aims to enhance resilience, gender equality, social inclusion, and biodiversity protection in urban communities in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa.
SUNCASA will benefit 2.2 million people living in high-flood-risk areas in Dire Dawa (Ethiopia), Kigali (Rwanda), and Johannesburg (South Africa). Funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Partnering for Climate program and delivered by IISD and the World Resources Institute, SUNCASA will be implemented in partnership with a wide array of local organizations.
The project’s gender-responsive NbS include the restoration and conservation of upstream watershed areas with agroforestry, afforestation, and reforestation, buffer zone creation, and urban tree planting.
Project Sites
Dire Dawa
SUNCASA will restore the Dechatu River catchment in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, reducing flood risk, erosion, and urban water stress, benefiting over 200,000 people.
Kigali
In Kigali, Rwanda, SUNCASA will restore micro-catchments in the lower Nyabarongo River watershed, mitigating flood risk, landslides, and soil erosion, improving the resilience of 975,000 people.
Johannesburg
SUNCASA in Johannesburg, South Africa, will restore the Jukskei River catchment through the removal of invasive alien species and tree planting initiatives, decreasing flooding and improving water security for 1.045 million people.
What's new
A Sustainable Asset Valuation Assessment of Nature-Based Solutions in the Dechatu River Catchment in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
This report assesses how nature-based solutions can strengthen climate resilience, protect public health, and support livelihoods in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
How Biophysical Monitoring Turns Data into Action for Nature-Based Solutions
Rigorous and consistent data analysis provides the feedback needed to refine strategies, attract investment, and strengthen natural infrastructure that delivers multiple social, environmental, and economic benefits.
“I Am a Tree”: Students Bring Climate Awareness to Life Through Creativity
In Kigali, Rwanda, youth are taking the lead in climate action by turning dance, drama, poetry, visual arts, and even fashion into powerful platforms for environmental awareness.
Reimagining the River: How art can help us adapt to climate change
Thandokuhle Zungu, a gender equality expert supporting SUNCASA implementation in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, reveals how imagination, storytelling, and the beauty of collaboration are reshaping climate action.
Challenging Gender Discriminatory Norms, Practices, and Beliefs in Sub-Saharan Africa
SUNCASA held a series of training sessions to support women and other underrepresented groups in overcoming the barriers preventing their access to natural resources and meaningful participation in nature-based solutions governance.
South Africa Is Fighting Back Against Invasive Plants
Every spring, Johannesburg’s streets are transformed by a sea of purple as thousands of jacaranda trees burst into bloom. The lavender canopy is a defining feature of the city. But few know this iconic tree is actually an intruder.
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Project Partners
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