Fact Sheet: The United States and Africa: Building Resilience to Climate Change and Variability, Conserving Forests, Securing Energy for Africa 's Future

The United States and Africa share many common values and aspirations for the developing nations of the region. As a world leader in the endeavor to help the people of Africa further realize their promise, talents and opportunities, the U.S. is working with partners in Africa on initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resiliency to climate change, improve energy security, and cut air pollution while ensuring continued economic growth and prosperity for citizens across the continent. The following programs exemplify the U.S. commitment to supporting sustainable development in Africa.

Climate Change and Variability

In countries where livelihoods and the economy are already at risk from a variety of stresses, short- and long-term changes in the climate pose additional challenges to sustainable development. To understand the climate and its implications for development and to build resilience to climate variability and change, we are collaborating with African partners in a broad range of activities including interpreting data from Earth observations, developing decision support tools, and integrating climate information into development projects.

• Through the Global Earth Observing System of Systems, the United States is using satellite and ground-based observations to develop tools that help address challenges such as flooding and drought. U.S. support for the Global Climate Observing System is also building capacity to upgrade African observing stations and helping disseminate climate and weather information to rural areas via the RANET radio network.

• Through a collaboration between the United States and local partners in 20 sub-Saharan African countries, the Famine Early Warning System Network combines data from satellite observations with local crop and livelihood information to provide decision makers with early warnings of food security risks. Similar programs are being developed to warn of risks of malaria, meningitis, and pests. The funds will be used to support grants to local non-governmental organizations and community groups to conserve and restore important tropical forests throughout the country.

• The United States has developed an Adaptation Guidance Manual to enable project planners to understand the implications of a changing climate and design resilience into development projects. For example, in Mali , we are working with farmers to plant crop varieties that are better suited to a hotter climate. In South Africa , we are working with local stakeholders to identify water demand management and infrastructure needs to better meet water requirements as the climate changes.

Conserving Forests

Over twenty percent of global greenhouse gas emissions arise from deforestation; 10.4 million hectares of forest are lost each year, 29 percent in Africa . U.S. government partnerships are funding initiatives in Africa to reduce deforestation and support sustainable development.

• In Africa, the United States is working through the President's Initiative Against Illegal Logging, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), which includes 30 government and non-government partners, and the Central African Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) to reduce forest degradation and biodiversity loss in Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Sao Tome. The United States has contributed $54 million to the CBFP through CARPE to help support a network of national parks; improve forestry concession management; help forest communities; and in turn, improve the management of more than 200 million hectares of forest.

• Eligible developing countries can enter into Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) agreements to relieve certain forms of official debt owed to the United States while generating funds for conservation activities. Today, TFCA debt-for-forest programs have been concluded with 11 countries, which are generating a total of $135 million over 10-25 years to help conserve 20 million hectares of tropical forests. Botswana signed the first TFCA agreement in Africa in October 2006, reducing its U.S. debt payments by more than $8.3 million. The funds will be used to support grants to local groups to conserve and restore important tropical forests throughout the country.

• Launched by the U.S with $4 million in 2004, the Liberia Forest Initiative (LFI) is working to help make the Liberian forestry sector legal and sustainable in the post-war era. Today, the LFI is a $10 million multi-donor partnership with the Liberian Government involving the World Bank, European Commission, and international NGOs such as Flora and Fauna International, Conservation International and the Environmental Law Institute. In 2006, following the lifting of timber sanctions by the UN Security Council, the Liberian parliament passed a new law enshrining LFI reform measures to increase transparency in the forest sector, involve communities, provide for equitable access to forest resources and improve conservation across Liberia's 4 million hectares of forests.

Securing Energy for Africa 's Future

Energy development and security is a priority for Africa ; access to modern, clean, healthy, and efficient energy services is critical to sustainable development. U.S. government efforts in Africa create enabling environments for energy investments, energy access, and the use of renewable energy. These programs also promote capacity building, increase energy efficiency, and incorporate mechanisms to improve energy markets.

• The United States provides technical assistance to the West African Power Pool efforts that provide a reliable and competitively-priced electricity supply to support regional economic growth. The United States addresses the institutional aspects of the Power Pool needed to realize infrastructure investments from the private sector and multilateral banks. The West Africa Gas Pipeline complements the regional electricity pool; supporting development of the legal and institutional environment to develop a viable regional gas network. Benefits of these projects include cheaper and cleaner energy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased economic growth, and enhanced regional economic integration.

• Across Africa, the United States and it partners employ many approaches and technologies to increase access to clean energy to support economic growth. In South Africa , trainees are creating energy services companies, which will increase the energy efficiency in the country. The Watergy project helps South African municipalities find efficiencies in their water systems, creating large savings in energy. In Mali , solar powered water pumps are providing water for drinking and vegetable production. In the Southern Africa region, solar drying is applied to increase the market value of agriculture products. In post-conflict countries, including Angola , Liberia and Sudan , basic energy services are restored through rehabilitation of infrastructure, extending energy access, and creating the institutional structures to sustain business operations.

• The United States helped launch the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) and the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA) in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Both partnerships assist developing countries in deploying clean energy and pollution-reducing fuel and energy technologies around the globe. PCFV has been active in sub-Saharan Africa , helping to phase out leaded gasoline in all 49 countries in 2006, thus improving air quality for hundreds of millions. PCIA is working in a number of sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana , Kenya , Mauritania , Nigeria and Uganda conducting pilot programs and building capacity to demonstrate clean, affordable, efficient and safe home cooking and heating practices.