The African Development Bank (AfDB) has recently taken a new step in its commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.
It announced that it will now host the Secretariat of the Community of Practice on Natural Capital Accounting in Africa (Africa NCA CoP).
This initiative addresses a critical need: recognizing the true value of natural resources—forests, water, biodiversity, soils—and their contribution to the well-being of African populations. To this day, these assets are not fully integrated into conventional economic indicators, which limits their consideration in public policies.
By hosting this Secretariat, the AfDB aims to provide an open platform for cooperation among all stakeholders: governments, researchers, civil society organizations, and technical and financial partners. The goal is to foster the exchange of best practices, strengthen capacities, and promote reliable monitoring and evaluation tools.
It also represents a step toward greater harmonization of natural capital accounting methods across the continent, making the contributions of nature more visible and informing strategic development choices.
This decision reflects a shared ambition: to build more resilient African economies that can reconcile growth with the preservation of ecosystems. It also illustrates the growing recognition of Africa’s central role in the sustainable management of its natural heritage, for the benefit of both present and future generations.
Share: