NBS-IA Initiative Launches Grant Support for Sustainable Infrastructure in Central Asia and Africa

On March 23, 2026, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, in collaboration with UNEP and OECD, launched the Nature-Based Solutions Innovation Accelerator (NBS-IA) initiative. This initiative aims to support sustainable infrastructure projects in Central Asia and Africa, addressing vulnerabilities to climate risks. The call for proposals in Central Asia is open to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, while the African call will begin on April 8, 2026, for Algeria, Angola, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The initiative highlights the urgent need for nearly US$100 trillion in sustainable infrastructure investment by 2040. It emphasizes the importance of integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to enhance climate resilience and provide measurable adaptation impacts. The initiative is a response to the estimated 14% of global GDP growth at risk due to climate-related infrastructure losses. The focus is on pilot projects that can be scaled and replicated across the regions.

Key Points: • NBS-IA initiative launched to support sustainable infrastructure in Central Asia and Africa. • Call for proposals in Central Asia open to five countries; African call starts April 8, 2026. • Urgent need for US$100 trillion in sustainable infrastructure investment by 2040.