Infrastructure is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate-resilient infrastructure can strengthen economic growth and safeguard developing countries from the effects of climate change.

Over 20 years, we have developed an approach to climate-resilient infrastructure that is tailored to local conditions and context, and is adaptable. We have worked to future-proof some of Africa’s largest and most dynamic cities, and developed sustainable, very small water infrastructure to build climate resilience for the rural poor in the Southern Africa Development Community.

A wide range of players must be involved in the design and implementation of climate resilient infrastructure – government ministries, municipal authorities, intergovernmental organisations, businesses and, most importantly, users. It is important to build effective coalitions and transboundary cooperation in order to foster regional integration and sustainable management of shared resources.

We develop and implement strategies that support governments, public and private institutions, and local communities to plan, invest in, and deliver infrastructure that accounts for climate change. We work on infrastructure development and implementation, policy advice, institutional reform and strengthening, and innovative infrastructure financing mechanisms.

Energy is fundamental to social and economic development. Energy lights up cities, powers clean drinking water supplies, runs healthcare services, fuels transport services and makes telecommunications possible. Yet billions of people lack access to the most basic energy services. Globally, 1.2 billion people have no access to electricity. More than 2.7 billion people rely on the traditional use of biomass for cooking. This causes harmful indoor air pollution and is one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions across developing countries.

Access to modern, sustainable energy services is a vehicle to support socio-economic development and combat climate change. Advances in technology are rapidly changing options available beyond national energy grids. There must be a comprehensive approach to energy access that incorporates both on and off-grid access to energy.

We help governments and private companies in the power sector across East Africa to implement strategy, policy and regulations for reliable geothermal energy generation. ASI has worked with the Nigerian and Kenyan governments to provide solar systems for schools and clinics; and supported businesses to provide 49,000 Nigerian homes with solar lighting or power systems on fully commercial terms.

Our services include: consumer financing and market development, policy and institutional reform and strengthening, and mobilisation of innovative financing mechanisms.

Nearly two-thirds of those in extreme poverty in developing countries earn a living from agriculture, which is under acute threat from climate change. Sustainable management of land, water and forest resources is one of the most effective ways to strengthen developing economies and transform local peoples’ livelihoods.

We support the design and delivery of innovative, high-impact and transformative sustainable land use strategies. ASI has built the capacity of the Rwandan and Bangladesh governments to plan for inclusive, sustainable growth; and we have linked farmers to private companies across the East and Southern Africa agricultural sector.

Sustainable resource management requires integrating finance, technology, market development and policy and institution building. Livelihoods in poor agricultural areas can be improved through technologies and best practice that promote climate-resilient value chains and implement scientific breakthroughs.

This involves working with a multitude of public and private stakeholders across regional, national and local scales. Our services include: market development, policy advice, increasing access to climate finance, and institutional reform and strengthening.

Developing countries need considerable capital to make the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient economy. We work with governments to access domestic financing as well as the many climate funds provided by the international community to help developing countries – funds such as the Green Climate Fund and Global Environmental Facility that are linked to the Paris Climate Agreement endorsed at COP21 in December 2015.

We help governments apply for accreditation to climate funds, develop projects and proposals for submission, and work up the detailed design of successful projects to secure implementation funds. That often means helping governments to strengthen their institutional capacity, develop strategies to improve coordination between Ministries, and support policy and legislation to account for climate risk management in budgets and planning.

Our services include: accreditation support for national implementing entities, project development and proposal writing guidance, policy work and institutional strengthening, capacity building, strategy and market development.