The combination of Covid-19 pandemic and enhanced climatic threats exacerbates Africa’s vulnerabilities and developmental challenges.The Covid-19 pandemic reminds us of our collective vulnerability to global human and environmental threats.

The African Development Bank Group approved a $10-billion Covid-19 Response Facility (CRF) to help African countries effectively respond to the Covid-19 health crisis and to stimulate green and resilient recovery.

The Bank’s CRF package presents an opportunity to address the emerging Covid-19 challenges and support the continent’s transition to resilient and green growth through investments such as installing renewable energy in health centres; delivering climate smart agricultural interventions in the Sahel region to avert hunger; and sustainable water and sanitation solutions.

If anything, there is a silver lining in this crisis of enabling the global community to “build back better” - by not going back to carbon intensive production and consumption systems that made us this vulnerable in the first place. This approach will lay a solid foundation to a greener post-Covid future.

Report by AfDB