In Africa, the need to mainstream these benefits from nature, or natural capital, into development planning is explicitly recognized in the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the African Union Green Recovery Action Plan (2021 – 2027). Many African countries also recognize the need to sustainably manage and invest in natural capital in green economic development policies, action plans and strategies.
This report highlights how natural capital assessments can better inform natural capital approaches to investment project planning in Africa. This includes from a risk management perspective, where natural capital impacts that lead to unintended economic and social welfare losses are recognized, mitigated and avoided.
It also includes from the opportunity perspective, where the possibilities for natural capital investments to deliver on different development objectives are revealed to decision-makers.