GCA Supports Climate Adaptation Measures for Southern Niger Connectivity Project
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otterdam, the Netherlands, 20 May 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) today welcomed the World Bank’s approval of a landmark US$400 million financing package for the Southern Niger Connectivity and Integration Project (PICSN), a transformative investment to improve climate-resilient infrastructure, logistics, and integration across one of the most fragile and climate-vulnerable regions in the Sahel.
The financing—comprising a US$20 million grant and US$380 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), including targeted support for host communities and refugees—will enable the rehabilitation of critical stretches of Niger’s National Road 1 (RN1) and the upgrading of over 525 kilometers of rural and feeder roads to climate-resilient standards.
GCA is providing upstream technical support through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), jointly implemented with the African Development Bank. This support will shape the integration of climate adaptation and resilience measures into the project design. GCA is also conducting climate risk and vulnerability assessments, adaptation option appraisals, and food security analyses—highlighting the strategic value of transport infrastructure in reducing climate risks and unlocking rural economic potential.
Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, stated: “This is adaptation in action. Our partnership with the World Bank and the Government of Niger demonstrates how climate-smart planning can attract large-scale investment, strengthen food systems, and deliver hope in the face of fragility. This project is not just a road; it is a lifeline that connects communities, supports displaced populations, and delivers a pathway to long-term stability and economic resilience.”
The Southern Niger Connectivity and Integration Project is expected to benefit more than 16 million people across Niger and northern Nigeria, including over two million members of host communities and ten percent of the one million forcibly displaced individuals in Niger. The project also includes extensive consultation with refugees and host communities, in collaboration with UNHCR, to ensure that the design reflects the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
The initiative supports the Government of Niger’s broader strategy to enhance access to jobs and services, improve road asset management, and reform maintenance planning systems for long-term infrastructure sustainability. It is expected to catalyze economic growth, employment, and food security while building resilience to climate shocks.
This milestone builds on GCA’s expanding track record of influencing climate-resilient infrastructure across the Sahel, including in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger, and reinforces the central role of adaptation finance in delivering sustainable development in conflict-affected regions.
