New climate budget‑tool launched: East Africa’s nature‑based solutions get €8 million boost
KAMPALA, UGANDA. The East African Community (EAC) and development partners launched a new project named “EAC4Nature” in March 2025 aimed at integrating nature‑based solutions into climate adaptation across the region. The project is backed by €8 million (approx. UGX 32 billion) and targets rural and urban resilience in the face of climate threats.
Richard Gatete, Executive Director of the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) speaking at the launch, emphasised that aside from aviation security his agency was highlighting the broad vulnerability of East Africa to climate‑shocks and the need for nature‑based interventions.
For Uganda and Kampala’s urban‑fringe communities, the project matters. Drier seasons, unpredictable rainfall (as forecast by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) earlier this year) show climate risk is real. The EAC4Nature initiative will focus on green infrastructure, urban greening, watershed management and community‑based adaptation.
Urban developers, city‑planners and real‑estate interests in Kampala should be alert: resilient infrastructure, green space management, and climate‑adaptive design are becoming not just nice‑to‑have but essential parts of project viability.
Why it matters
Climate risk is increasingly a business risk. Urbanisation in Kampala means more people live in vulnerable zones; nature‑based solutions offer a route to resilience.
For investors and developers in Uganda, integrating climate adaptation and sustainable design can improve long‑term asset stability and social licence to operate.
The project underlines East‑Africa’s recognition of climate change not just as an environmental issue but a development and urban infrastructure challenge.
Communities at the urban fringe or peri‑urban areas will directly feel the impact — managing flooding, drought, heat stress, ecosystem services.
What to watch
How funds are allocated: will Kampala‑metropolitan areas see early pilot projects or will rural zones dominate?
The private sector’s involvement: will real‑estate developers, infrastructure firms partner in nature‑based solutions?
Policy integration: will Uganda adopt new regulations or incentives for climate‑resilient urban development?
Measurable results: within 12–18 months, will we see reduced flooding, improved drainage or improved green‑space coverage in Kampala or other cities?
