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WRI has been working in Africa for more than 30 years toward a more sustainable society that can meet people’s essential needs, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate.

Our vision for Africa is an inclusive transformation so Africa’s people and landscapes flourish. To realize this vision, WRI works with partners to generate actionable knowledge across four strategic pillars:

Vital Landscapes

Productive, resilient landscapes are central to Africa’s prosperity: About 70% of the continent’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. Yet, Africa’s landscape health is declining. Nearly 3 million hectares of forests are lost in Africa every year, 65% of its land is affected by degradation, and 3% of GDP is lost annually from soil and nutrient depletion on cropland. Our vision is to shift Africa’s food, land and water systems to meet the needs of all people while protecting nature and halting climate change.

Thriving, Resilient Cities

African cities are growing rapidly, but urban infrastructure and services are not meeting demand. Our vision is to transition Africa’s urban systems to provide a better quality of life and health. That means providing equitable access to jobs and core services for all, especially the underserved. At the same time, we’re working to ensure that African cities are more resilient to climate change impacts and on a path to climate neutrality by 2050.

Building a Clean Energy Future for Africa

Access to clean, affordable and reliable power is essential for human health, education and economic prosperity. But many people in Africa still lack electricity access altogether. African countries must strike a balance between rapidly increasing access to electricity and building out low-carbon energy systems for the future. Our vision is for all communities in Africa to have access to clean, reliable affordable energy while reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Climate, Economics and Finance

Tackling climate change is an all-encompassing challenge that will require shifts in just about every sector of the economy. By bringing together the dimensions of climate, economics and finance, we support advancing climate actions through integrated solutions. Climate action is local, and in Africa, we aim to bridge the gap between global goals and local impact, bringing in tools and expertise to build partnerships and collaboration to build lasting resilience. We aim to advance comprehensive and inclusive climate action across adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage — ultimately delivering benefits for people, nature and the climate.

Read WRI Africa's Strategic Plan

WRI Africa is led by a vice president and regional director based in Kenya. We maintain a regional hub office in Ethiopia and offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.