Global Center on Adaptation Partners with African Development Bank to Enhance Climate Resilience in Comoros’ Port Infrastructure
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otterdam, Netherlands, 22 August 2024 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is collaborating with the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) to support the Union of Comoros in developing and enhancing the resilience of its maritime infrastructure. The Comoros Maritime Corridor Development and Regional Trade Facilitation Project, aims to boost the country’s port capacities, fostering regional trade and ensuring long-term sustainability in the face of climate change.
Comoros, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) located in the Indian Ocean, faces unique challenges due to its geographic isolation, economic constraints, and heightened vulnerability to climate hazards such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods and tsunamis. The nation’s economy, heavily reliant on maritime trade, fisheries, agriculture, and tourism, needs resilient infrastructure to sustain its growth and integration into broader continental trade networks.
The $247.58 million project supported by the AfDB and other international partners including the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Agence Française de Développement, will develop and upgrade the port infrastructure across the three Comorian islands: Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan. By increasing port capacity and productivity, this initiative will facilitate the transition of Comoros from a trade zone of 1 million people to a market connected with over 1.2 billion people across the African continent.
GCA’s involvement is pivotal in ensuring that these developments are not only infrastructurally sound but also climate-resilient. GCA is providing technical support to conduct comprehensive climate risk assessments and stress tests for the Moroni port (Grande Comore), Boingoma port (Mohéli), and Mutsamudu port (Anjouan). This includes a detailed climate hazard assessment, vulnerability analysis, and the identification of adaptation strategies to protect these critical trade hubs.
“Our collaboration with the African Development Bank under the African Adaptation Acceleration Program marks a significant step towards securing the future of Comoros’ maritime infrastructure,” said Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation. “Through AAAP, we are not merely addressing the immediate needs of expanding port capacity but are also laying the foundation for long-term resilience in the face of escalating climate risks. This project exemplifies our commitment to ensuring that the people of Comoros can thrive in a connected and climate-secure future. By fortifying these vital economic arteries, we are empowering Comoros to emerge as a resilient hub of regional trade and a model for adaptation in Small Island Developing States globally.”
The project also includes capacity building through GCA’s Climate Resilient Infrastructure Masterclass, designed to equip institutional stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to manage and maintain resilient infrastructure. This ensures that local authorities and project implementers are well-prepared to make informed decisions regarding adaptation strategies.
With an implementation period from 2024 to 2029, the project is expected to directly benefit approximately 800,000 people, including over 50% women and youth under 30, by securing jobs, enhancing trade opportunities, and fostering economic growth.
This initiative is a critical step towards the realization of the Comoros government’s Plan Comores Émergent, which emphasizes the importance of a blue economy, focusing on fisheries, coastal tourism, and safe maritime transportation as drivers of national development.
Notes to Editors
About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent.
Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. The Center will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.
