Building Climate-Resilient African Economies: Lessons from Eswatini’s NDC and My AERC-CMAP Journey

Africa is warming faster than the global average. From prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall to floods and declining agricultural productivity, climate change is no longer a distant threat it is an everyday reality for millions of Africans. Yet, amid these challenges, Africa also holds some of the most powerful and practical solutions for climate resilience.

My recent academic journey studying Environmental Economics under the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Collaborative Master's Programme in Economics for Sub-Saharan Africa (CMAP) reinforced a simple but critical truth: climate action is not just a global obligation it is an African development imperative.

As part of the 2025 AERC-CMAP Programme, fully funded by AERC, I had the privilege of studying under Professor Obindah Gershon, Associate Professor of Energy and Sustainability Economics at Covenant University, Nigeria. The programme went beyond theory. It demanded that we critically engage with Africa’s environmental realities and propose context-specific, implementable solutions.

A core component of the programme required each student to select, analyse, present, and defend recommendations on an African country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) the climate action plans submitted under the Paris Agreement. Out of Africa’s 54 countries, students from diverse universities across the continent collectively reviewed 32 African NDCs, providing a rare comparative perspective on climate ambition and policy design.

I chose to study the Kingdom of Eswatini. Why Eswatini? A Small Country with Big Climate Ambitions

Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a small landlocked country with a population of about 1.2 million people, most of whom live in rural areas and depend heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods. Like many African economies, Eswatini is highly vulnerable to climate variability, particularly in rainfall patterns and water availability.

Agriculture especially sugarcane production is central to Eswatini’s economy. The sugar sector contributes significantly to GDP, export earnings, and employment. However, what stood out most in my analysis was not the size of the economy, but the clarity and innovation embedded in Eswatini’s climate strategy.

One policy in particular deserves attention. A Bold Innovation: Ethanol-Blended Fuel (E10) by 2030. In its 2021 updated NDC, Eswatini commits to introducing a 10 per cent ethanol blend in petrol (E10) by 2030, using ethanol produced from sugarcane by-products and waste.

This single policy achieves multiple objectives:

• Reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels

• Cuts greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector
• Transforms agricultural waste into a clean energy resource
• Creates green jobs and supports rural incomes

This is precisely the kind of homegrown, practical, and scalable innovation Africa needs solutions that align climate action with economic transformation.

Eswatini’s NDC: Ambitious, Structured, and Realistic. Beyond fuel blending, Eswatini’s NDC presents a balanced and structured approach to both mitigation and adaptation.

Key mitigation priorities include:

• Expansion of renewable energy
• E10 fuel blending
• Sustainable waste management
• Emission reductions in agriculture and industrial processes On the adaptation side, the NDC prioritises:
• Climate-resilient agriculture
• Water resource protection
• Biodiversity and ecosystem conservation
• Health sector resilience
• Climate-proof infrastructure development

The government estimates that implementing these measures between 2021 and 2030 will require approximately US$1.3 billion a realistic acknowledgment of both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity for climate finance, private sector engagement, and regional cooperation. The lesson is clear: greenhouse gas emissions are not abstract numbers. They directly affect food security, water availability, energy access, and public health. Prevention through smart policy and investment is far cheaper and more sustainable than repairing climate damage with expensive external support.

Africa must deliberately:

• Reduce carbon emissions
• Invest in tree planting and reforestation
• Promote sustainable mining practices
• Improve waste management through composting and recycling

• Expand renewable energy and green jobs
• Strengthen energy efficiency across all sectors Climate Action Is a Development Strategy

Africa is endowed with fertile land, abundant sunlight, vast water resources, and a youthful, innovative population. Climate action should therefore not be viewed as a constraint on growth, but as a pathway to inclusive and resilient development. Eswatini’s experience shows that size is not a limitation vision, policy coherence, and political will matter far more.

To policymakers, students, researchers, and development practitioners across Ghana and Africa: Study your country’s NDC. Identify one practical innovation you can support or improve. Advocate for climate-smart policies in your community. Share your insights.

Africa needs informed voices, bold ideas, and committed action.

Together, we can build a climate-resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Africa.

Author:

Stephen Agbemasiku
Diploma in Basic Education | B.Ed. Economics & Mathematics

M.Phil. Economics (Candidate), University of Cape Coast, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Alumni | Environmental Sustainability Advocate | Nationwide Waste Education Campaign (NWEC) Ambassador, Recycle Up! Ghana

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