Panelists:

• Mohammed El Bahajji (SOCO DEVI)
• Mathieu Idjawo (The Lutheranian World Foundation)
• Marie-Madeleine Gomez (CEGEP de la Gaspésie et des Iles)
• Emmanuel Ramos (Tiniguena)
• Charles Tah (Farm Radio International)

Mohammed shared insights from the Resilient Women project in the Middle Atlas region, which focuses on empowering women-led cooperatives to adopt and institutionalize NbS. He emphasized the importance of inclusive governance in ensuring long-term success and sustainability of NbS. Mohammed explained how cooperatives are central to the project’s strategy, serving as vehicles for knowledge diffusion, community engagement, and local development. He noted:

“By integrating women into decision-making processes and equipping cooperatives with the tools and expertise needed for NbS, we are building resilient, community-driven solutions to climate challenges.”

Mathieu brought attention to gender equality in NbS, particularly how it can drive climate resilience. He explained that women, who often bear the brunt of climate impacts, need to be central to governance processes for NbS to be truly effective. The Climate Resilience and Low-Carbon Economies project in the Lake Chad Basin emphasizes empowering women and improving their access to resources like land. Mathieu called for policies that prioritize gender equality in climate adaptation strategies, noting that climate financing must consider these vulnerable groups. He underscored the project’s goal of fostering equality by enabling women and marginalized groups to access vital resources and participate in governance processes.

“We want to help women because women have to be very active; they are the ones who are making decisions. For example, women don’t have access to land ownership, and we want to make sure that this changes through our project.”

Marie-Madeleine focused on inclusive governance and the importance of engaging multiple stakeholders in NbS projects. She described how the inclusive governance model used in the project in the Caribbean has worked effectively by including all sectors of society in decision-making, from local governments to youth and women’s groups. Marie-Madeleine highlighted that successful NbS projects require a balance between local priorities and the broader policy environment, which requires close collaboration between local authorities and communities. She pointed out that the goal of inclusive governance is to ensure that no one is left behind, particularly marginalized and vulnerable groups. As she emphasized:

“Inclusive governance ensures that everyone, including women and vulnerable groups, has a voice in managing natural resources. It’s about equity, transparency, and active participation, ensuring biodiversity is protected while meeting the needs of diverse communities.”

Emmanuel discussed the co-management model used in Guinea-Bissau’s Urok Community Marine Protected Area, which involves local communities directly in managing their ecosystems. Despite political instability, Emmanuel emphasized that the co-management strategy has succeeded in preserving marine biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods. Emmanuel also noted that continuous dialogue with national authorities is essential for maintaining a balance and ensuring the protection of both biodiversity and community rights. He also stressed that ensuring local ownership and participation in governance models is crucial for the success of NbS in developing countries. He emphasized the role of local communities in managing and protecting vital ecosystems, noting the importance of women and youth in these efforts. Emmanuel stated:

“Women are key stakeholders in managing families, natural resources, and sacred ceremonies. Our mission is to strengthen their capacity so they can play a central role in governance and resource management, ensuring adaptive approaches that balance community and political structures.”

Charles focused on the role of media and public dialogue in bridging the gap between policymakers and local communities. Through Farm Radio International’s On-Air Dialogues, Charles explained how radio programs are used to gather community feedback on NbS and climate action. The dialogues aim to bring rural communities’ voices to policymakers, ensuring that NbS interventions are designed with their direct input and priorities. By using interactive radio formats, Farm Radio International facilitates dialogue that results in concrete policy recommendations, empowering communities to advocate for the funding and support they need to implement NbS effectively. Charles highlighted how listening to communities helps close the policy-implementation gap:

“We cannot overemphasize the importance of policy in advancing nature-based solutions. But the question here is who formulates those policies? Most policies are top-down and hardly include rural communities, who are the most affected. Farm Radio International plays a crucial role in mobilizing and listening to these communities, ensuring their voices inform policy decisions.”

Conclusion

The seventh NAbSA Dialogue emphasized the critical role of policy and governance in ensuring the successful scaling and sustainability of NbS in Sub-Saharan Africa. The discussion revealed that for NbS to thrive, inclusive governance is essential, with communities—particularly women and youth—playing central roles in decision-making. Panelists also stressed the importance of local ownership and the need for financial mechanisms that directly support the people most affected by climate change. As highlighted by the speakers, effective policy frameworks must balance economic, environmental, and social considerations while ensuring that nature-based interventions are equitable, accessible, and sustainable.

This session underscored that policy reforms, inclusive governance models, and innovative communication strategies are key to unlocking the full potential of NbS in addressing climate challenges. The insights shared during the dialogue provide a roadmap for scaling up NbS in a way that benefits both people and ecosystems. For further insights and recommendations on implementing NbS through effective governance, we encourage you to listen to the full recording of the dialogue.