When the Skies Speak Again: Preparing East Africa for the Next El Niño While Safeguarding Agenda 2063

Flood effects in Nakasongola due to rising Lake Kyoga water levels in 2020 (📷JEEP)

Three years ago, many East Africans watched the sky with hope.

After months of prolonged dry spells and poor harvests, dark clouds finally gathered over villages from western Uganda to northern Tanzania, across Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia. Farmers welcomed the rains, believing that a better season had arrived. Yet within weeks, many communities were battling floods, landslides, damaged roads, destroyed crops, disease outbreaks and displacement. In some areas, rainfall remained below average, highlighting that El Niño impacts communities differently depending on local geography and climate (WMO, 2024; IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), 2024).

Those experiences should not be forgotten.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) indicates that El Niño is expected to dominate global climate patterns during the August–October (ASO) 2026 season, increasing the likelihood of significant weather anomalies across many regions (WMO, 2026). Although the exact impacts will vary across East Africa, the forecast provides governments, businesses and communities with a valuable opportunity to prepare before disasters occur.

Preparing for El Niño is not only about reducing disaster losses—it is also about protecting Africa's long-term development ambitions. The African Union's Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want envisions "a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development." Yet climate extremes continue to threaten food systems, public health, water security, energy access and livelihoods that underpin this vision (African Union, 2015). Recognising this challenge, the Africa Climate Change Strategy 2020–2030 identifies climate resilience as fundamental to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 by strengthening the continent's capacity to anticipate, adapt to and recover from climate shocks (African Union Commission, 2020).

For East Africa, preparedness should begin with the people whose livelihoods depend most on the climate—smallholder farmers.

Agriculture employs nearly 60–70% of East Africa's labour force and provides food and income for millions (World Bank, 2024). Communities can reduce climate risks by planting drought- and flood-tolerant crop varieties, staggering planting dates according to seasonal forecasts, conserving soil moisture through mulching, improving farm drainage, and investing in rainwater harvesting. Community grain stores and seed banks can strengthen food security when extreme weather disrupts harvests (FAO, 2024). Extension workers should also ensure that seasonal climate information reaches farmers in local languages through radio, mobile phones and farmer field schools. Protecting agricultural livelihoods today strengthens the resilient and productive food systems envisioned under Agenda 2063.

Energy systems also deserve attention.

Across East Africa, decentralised renewable energy—particularly solar-powered irrigation, cold storage and agro-processing—is transforming rural livelihoods and creating new economic opportunities. However, floods can damage solar infrastructure, while prolonged cloud cover may temporarily reduce solar electricity generation. Communities should protect solar installations, elevate batteries above flood levels, maintain backup energy systems and improve maintenance of mini-grids. Hydropower operators should also strengthen reservoir management to balance electricity generation with flood control (International Energy Agency, 2025). Building resilient clean energy systems supports Agenda 2063's ambition of sustainable industrialisation and inclusive economic transformation.

Health is another frontline of climate resilience.

Following the 2023–2024 El Niño, several East African countries experienced increases in cholera, malaria, dengue and other climate-sensitive diseases, largely driven by flooding and contaminated water supplies (WHO, 2024). Communities can prepare by clearing drainage channels, eliminating stagnant water, improving sanitation, treating drinking water and strengthening disease surveillance. Local health facilities should stock essential medicines and emergency supplies before peak rainfall begins. Protecting public health is essential for maintaining productive communities and advancing sustainable development across the continent.

Water and sanitation are equally critical.

Floods frequently contaminate wells, boreholes and piped water systems while damaging sanitation infrastructure. Protecting wetlands, restoring degraded watersheds, planting trees along riverbanks, desilting drainage systems and promoting household rainwater harvesting can reduce flood risks while increasing water availability during subsequent dry periods (UN-Water, 2024). These nature-based solutions strengthen ecosystem resilience while contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation—key pillars of Agenda 2063.

Perhaps the greatest lesson from the 2023–2024 El Niño is that resilience is built collectively.

Governments can strengthen early warning systems, but communities remain the first responders. Women's groups, youth organisations, farmer cooperatives, faith-based institutions, local governments, civil society organisations and the private sector all play indispensable roles in sharing information, protecting vulnerable households and coordinating local preparedness. The United Nations' Early Warnings for All Initiative, led by WMO and partners, reminds us that early warnings only save lives when they lead to early action (WMO, 2026).

Scientists cannot stop El Niño.

Communities, however, can reduce its impacts.

The story East Africa writes during the August–October 2026 season does not have to mirror that of 2023–2024. By combining scientific forecasts with indigenous knowledge, investing in climate-resilient livelihoods and acting before disaster strikes, communities can transform climate risk into an opportunity to build safer, healthier and more prosperous societies. In doing so, they will not only protect lives and livelihoods today but also help realise Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. As the African Union Climate Change Strategy (2020–2030) emphasises, building resilience to climate change is indispensable to achieving Africa's long-term vision of inclusive growth, sustainable development and shared prosperity for future generations.

References

·         African Union. (2015). Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

·         African Union Commission. (2020). Africa Climate Change Strategy 2020–2030.

·         FAO. (2024). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024.

·         ICPAC. (2024). Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum Reports.

·         International Energy Agency. (2025). Africa Energy Outlook 2025.

·         UN-Water. (2024). United Nations World Water Development Report 2024.

·         World Bank. (2024). Agriculture and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

·         World Health Organization. (2024). Climate Change and Health: East Africa Situation Reports.

·         World Meteorological Organization. (2024). State of the Climate in Africa 2023.

·         World Meteorological Organization. (2026). El Niño/La Niña Update and Global Seasonal Climate Update (August–October 2026).

Act Now: Combating Poverty and Inequality Is Still Within Our Hands

A woman manually sorts her bean harvest in Mityana, Uganda. Improvement in technology in such agricultural value chains is a step to reducing post-harvest losses, poverty and inequality (📷KEA)

"Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice." — Nelson Mandela

When Sarah switched on her solar-powered irrigation pump for the first time, she did not simply power a machine.

She powered hope.

For years, the smallholder farmer had watched unpredictable rains and prolonged droughts erode her harvests and her family's income. Every season brought impossible choices: paying school fees or buying seeds, investing in the farm or putting food on the table.

Then access to renewable energy changed the equation.

Reliable solar power enabled her to irrigate her crops, improve productivity and earn a more stable income. Her children stayed in school. Her daughter gained more time to study instead of collecting firewood. The family became more resilient to climate change while reducing dependence on costly and polluting energy sources.

Sarah's story is not unique. Across East Africa, millions of people are demonstrating that sustainable development is most meaningful when it improves everyday lives.

Mandela's Legacy Is a Call to Action

In his 2026 Mandela Day message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres reminds us that poverty and inequality remain among humanity's greatest challenges. Rising living costs, conflicts, economic uncertainty and climate impacts continue to widen inequalities and push vulnerable communities further behind.

Yet his message is ultimately one of hope.

Building fairer economies, expanding renewable energy, investing in education, creating decent jobs and strengthening social protection can still transform lives. The future remains within our hands—but only if we choose to act.

That message could not be more timely.

The SDG Report 2026 Gives Us Reasons for Both Hope and Urgency

The newly released United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 tells two stories.

The first is encouraging.

Since 2015, billions more people have gained access to electricity, safe drinking water and healthcare. Renewable energy is expanding rapidly, proving that sustainable development investments deliver real benefits for people and communities.

The second story is more sobering.

Progress remains too slow and too uneven.

Extreme poverty continues to affect hundreds of millions of people. Climate change is intensifying floods, droughts and food insecurity. Women and girls still face unequal opportunities in education, employment, leadership and economic participation.

These challenges are interconnected—and so are their solutions.

Why SDG 5, SDG 7 and SDG 13 Must Move Together

The 2030 Agenda was never intended to be a collection of isolated goals.

Its greatest strength lies in the connections between them.

SDG 5 (Gender Equality) empowers women and girls to participate fully in economic and social life.

SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) provides households, farms, schools and businesses with the power needed to improve livelihoods and create opportunities.

SDG 13 (Climate Action) helps communities build resilience while protecting the natural systems upon which development depends.

Together, these goals create a virtuous cycle.

When women have equal access to productive resources, finance, education and decision-making, communities become more prosperous.

When clean energy reaches underserved communities, agricultural productivity improves, businesses grow and emissions decline.

When climate action supports adaptation and resilience, families become better prepared for future shocks rather than trapped in recurring crises.

Development is strongest when these goals reinforce one another.

Why This Matters for East Africa

East Africa stands at an important crossroads.

The region possesses extraordinary renewable energy resources, entrepreneurial communities and one of the world's youngest populations.

These strengths create enormous opportunities.

Expanding access to renewable energy can transform agriculture, support women-led enterprises, create green jobs, and strengthen climate resilience across both rural and urban communities.

Every solar-powered irrigation system.
Every clean cooking solution.
Every restored landscape.
Every girl who completes her education.
Every woman who starts and grows a business.

Each represents another step towards reducing poverty while building more inclusive and climate-resilient economies.

Mandela's Challenge Belongs to All of Us

Nelson Mandela believed that lasting change begins with collective responsibility.

Governments must develop policies that place people at the centre of development.

Development partners should increase investments that reach vulnerable communities.

Businesses must innovate responsibly and create inclusive opportunities.

Civil society must continue connecting global commitments with local action.

And each of us has a role to play through the choices we make, the partnerships we build and the voices we amplify.

The Time to Act Is Now

The Sustainable Development Goals were never intended to remain aspirations on paper.

They were designed to improve lives.

As we mark Mandela Day 2026, let us remember that combating poverty and inequality requires more than good intentions. It requires decisive action that advances gender equality, expands access to clean energy and accelerates climate action.

These are not competing priorities.

They are the foundations of a fairer, more resilient and more prosperous future.

Mandela reminded us that changing the world is possible because it is made by people.

Today, that responsibility rests with us.

The future is still within our hands. Let us act now.

From Global Goals to Local Lives: The SDGs Through an East African Lens

A Farmer Field School in Bulerejje, Mpigi district (Uganda): Scaling up learning and resilience building is key to addressing poverty, food insecurity and climate change (📷: Kimbowa Richard)

Every morning across East Africa, millions of people wake up with hope—and uncertainty. A smallholder farmer waits anxiously for rains that no longer arrive on time. A young entrepreneur dreams of expanding a business but struggles with unreliable electricity. A mother walks several kilometres to collect safe drinking water before beginning the rest of her day.

These are not isolated stories. They are reminders that sustainable development is ultimately about people.

As world leaders gather for the 2026 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), they do so 11 years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—the world's shared blueprint for ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all by 2030.

The newly released UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 offers a mixed picture. It acknowledges meaningful progress across several Goals, proving that change is possible when governments, communities and development partners work together. Yet it also warns that progress remains uneven and far too slow. Escalating conflicts, climate change, economic uncertainty, rising debt and declining development assistance continue to undermine global efforts.

The numbers tell a sobering story. Around one in ten people still lives in extreme poverty. More than 2.3 billion people face food insecurity, while 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water. Over 150 million children remain stunted, maternal mortality is still nearly three times the global target, and none of the gender equality targets is currently on track.

These statistics resonate deeply across East Africa, where climate shocks, youth unemployment, food insecurity and limited access to affordable energy continue to affect millions of households. Yet they also highlight opportunities. The region possesses abundant renewable energy resources, an increasingly innovative youth population and growing momentum for digital transformation. Harnessed effectively, these assets can accelerate progress across multiple SDGs.

The findings closely mirror those of the Sustainable Development Report 2026 by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which concludes that fewer than one in five SDG targets are currently on track worldwide. The report identifies hunger (SDG 2) and peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16) among the Goals experiencing the greatest setbacks.

As Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs observed, sustainable development cannot flourish without peace. His message is particularly relevant today. Lasting progress depends not only on investment but also on stable institutions, effective governance and international cooperation.

For East Africa, the message from both reports is clear. The SDGs remain more than global aspirations—they are practical solutions to everyday challenges. Expanding renewable energy can improve livelihoods and strengthen food systems. Investing in quality education and digital skills can unlock opportunities for young people. Strengthening local institutions can build resilience and public trust. Ensuring that women and girls have equal opportunities benefits entire communities.

The countdown to 2030 is no longer a distant milestone—it is a test of our collective resolve. Every policy adopted, every investment made and every partnership forged from this moment forward will shape the future of millions across East Africa and beyond.

The SDGs are not simply global targets. They are a promise to every farmer seeking a better harvest, every young entrepreneur pursuing opportunity, every child deserving quality education, and every community striving for dignity and resilience.

The future will not be defined by the reports we publish, but by the lives we transform. Now is the time to turn ambition into action—and to ensure that no one, and no place, is left behind. 

SB64 Bonn: From Climate Promises to Implementation Pressure

 

At dawn in northern Uganda, maize trader Daniel loads sacks onto a truck bound for the South Sudan border. He has heard the talk in Kampala and on the radio: the mid-year climate negotiations in Bonn, building on the thirteenth UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP30) “Mutirão Decision” in Brazil. But for Daniel, the language of climate diplomacy only matters if it changes the price of fuel, the cost of transport, and whether his harvest survives another season of erratic rains.

Far away in Bonn, negotiators are preparing for SB64 from 8–18 June 2026 in Bonn, Germany, the mid-year UN climate talks, where technical decisions quietly shape the outcomes of the more high-profile UNFCCC COP later on in the year in Antalya (Turkey). For Africa, these seemingly procedural meetings are far from secondary—they are where critical rules are refined on climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, and increasingly, the intersection between climate and global trade policy. COP30 held in Belem (Brazil) last year mandated the first Trade and Climate Dialogue to see how these largely siloed policy communities begin advancing a shared agenda.

The central question is whether the Mutirão framework will drive genuine shared implementation—or become another layer of commitments that countries struggle to translate into action, while global trade rules continue to constrain Africa’s development space. For Africa, securing its interests begins with shifting from reactive participation to coordinated influence. Too often, African countries arrive in Bonn with fragmented positions, despite facing shared and interconnected climate risks. From prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa to devastating floods in West Africa and cyclones in the southeast, the continent’s vulnerability is widespread—but so is its potential for coordinated response.

A more unified African negotiating approach, anchored by the African Group of Negotiators, must go beyond climate texts and engage more systematically with trade ministries and economic planners at the national level. This is increasingly important because the next frontier of climate governance is not only emissions targets, but also carbon border measures, green industrial policy, and the restructuring of global supply chains.

Consider Amina, a solar technician in peri-urban Kampala. Her work depends on imported components, but also on policy decisions made in Brussels, Beijing, and Washington that determine tariffs, technology standards, and market access rules. If emerging green trade regimes are designed without African participation, they risk excluding the very actors driving clean energy access on the continent.

At the Bonn talks, Africa’s key demand should be coherence: climate ambition must align with fair trade and industrial development. That means pushing for international trade-related climate measures to reflect development realities and climate vulnerability, rather than imposing uniform costs on economies that have contributed least to global emissions.

Equally important is the continuity on climate finance negotiations from COP30 (Brazil) to COP31 (Turkey). For Africa, this continuity is not about negotiation cycles—it is about whether climate finance shifts from global promise-making to local transformation. Without predictable, accessible, and concessional finance, African countries cannot invest at the scale required in adaptation infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, and sustainable urban systems.

The Mutirão spirit of collective global effort must therefore translate into simplified access to finance, faster disbursement, and greater alignment between climate funds and national development priorities. Expanded pledges alone are not sufficient if they do not reach communities and sectors most exposed to climate shocks.

However, negotiation strength does not begin in conference halls. It is built on evidence and lived realities. Farmers like Daniel, technicians like Amina, and countless small and medium-scale entrepreneurs must be systematically reflected in national positions through structured consultations and regional synthesis processes. Their experiences are not anecdotal—they are indicators of economic risk and opportunity.

Finally, Africa must increasingly treat trade policy not as an external constraint, but as a strategic negotiation frontier. Issues such as export rules for green minerals, local value addition in renewable energy supply chains, and emerging digital trade frameworks sit directly at the intersection of climate ambition and development strategy. Engaging early—before these rules become entrenched—is essential.

As Bonn approaches, Africa’s task is clear: to enter SB64 not as a rule-taker, but as a rule-shaper. The real test is whether emerging climate and trade architectures expand Africa’s development space—or narrow it. Climate action, trade fairness, and sustainable development will only succeed if they are negotiated as one interconnected system, not siloed  agendas.

 

Turning Water into Climate Action: Why East Africa’s Urban SMEs Need Incentives to Go Circular

A food stall. Photo: Kimbowa Richard

At 5:30 a.m., before Kampala’s traffic on Gayaza Road in Mpereerwe thickens and office lights in Mulago, Makerere, and Wandegeya flicker on, Amina is already at work. She scrubs vegetable and fruit crates, fills plastic basins, and checks whether the reservoir connected to an unreliable water supply will last the day. Every litre matters. Without water, there are no fresh products to sell, no income to earn, and no business to sustain.

Across East Africa’s cities, millions of small businesses share Amina’s dependence on water. Food vendors, laundries, fish processors, car washes, urban farmers, and beverage makers power local economies and create jobs, yet many operate on the frontline of climate disruption. Erratic rainfall causes flooding, pollution, and outbreaks of waterborne disease that disrupt operations, while prolonged dry spells create water shortages that businesses cannot afford.

The latest UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 warns that the world remains dangerously off track on sustainable water management. For East Africa’s urban enterprises, that warning is no longer about the future. It is already reflected in rising utility bills, disrupted supply chains, water shortages, and shrinking profit margins.

Climate change is no longer an abstract environmental concern for entrepreneurs like Amina. It is a direct business cost. Thousands of SMEs across East Africa depend on reliable water supplies, yet they operate amid increasing climate pressure, pollution, inefficient resource use, and rapid urbanisation.

The SDG Report 2025 further highlights that only 56% of domestic wastewater is safely treated globally. Meanwhile, Africa’s urban population is projected to nearly double by 2050, placing even greater pressure on water resources, waste management systems, food production, and municipal infrastructure.

For East African cities, this is not just an environmental challenge—it is an economic one.

Climate solutions can begin where people work, trade, and innovate. One practical pathway is circularity: designing business systems that reduce waste, reuse water, recover value from by-products, and use resources more efficiently.

Examples are already emerging across the region. In Nairobi, some small laundry operators reuse rinse water for preliminary cleaning cycles, reducing freshwater demand. In Kigali, urban farmers convert organic market waste into compost and use drip irrigation to maximise every litre of water. Around Lake Victoria, fish processors are adopting solar drying technologies that reduce spoilage, lower fuel consumption, and improve incomes.

These are not billion-dollar climate projects. They are local examples of circularity in action.

Circular business practices help enterprises minimise waste, recover value, and increase resource efficiency. For water-dependent SMEs, this can include rainwater harvesting, recycling process water, converting organic waste into fertiliser or energy, and redesigning production systems to use fewer inputs.

Recognising this opportunity, the African Union’s Continental Circular Economy Action Plan 2024–2034 identifies water, waste, energy, agro-food, and industry as priority sectors for building resilient and sustainable economies under Agenda 2063.

Yet small businesses cannot drive this transition alone.

Many entrepreneurs face significant barriers, including limited access to green finance, high technology costs, inadequate technical support, and few rewards for sustainable practices. This is where incentives become essential. Governments and municipalities can encourage circular business models through low-interest climate finance, tax relief, training programmes, faster licensing processes, and recognition schemes for enterprises that conserve water and reduce waste.

The African Union has also highlighted a major financing gap in Africa’s water sector—estimated at US$31–40 billion annually—underscoring the need for stronger investment partnerships to achieve water security and climate resilience.

Back in Mpereerwe, Amina’s actions may seem modest: harvesting rainwater, reducing food waste, and finding value in materials that would otherwise be discarded. Yet climate resilience cannot rest solely on the shoulders of individual entrepreneurs.

If East Africa is serious about building climate-smart cities and resilient economies, urban SMEs must move from the margins of climate policy to the centre of it.

Governments, municipalities, financiers, utilities, and development partners should act now to reward businesses that conserve water, reduce waste, and adopt circular practices. This means expanding access to affordable green finance, offering tax and licensing incentives, investing in climate-smart technologies, strengthening technical support, and integrating SMEs into urban climate and water planning.

Consumers also have a role to play. Every purchasing decision can strengthen demand for businesses that choose sustainability over waste.

World Environment Day 2026 should be more than a moment for awareness. It should be a test of whether we are prepared to turn climate ambition into practical action where it matters most—in markets, workshops, neighbourhood enterprises, and urban informal economies.

Climate solutions do not begin only in policy documents, donor pledges, or global summits. They begin when cities, governments, financiers, and consumers choose to support the entrepreneurs already innovating with limited resources every day.

If East Africa wants resilient cities, secure water systems, and inclusive green growth, incentivising circular SMEs is not optional.

It is an economic necessity.

The $700 Billion Question: Can Biodiversity Credits Work for Communities?

A woman smallholder farmer in Kapchorwa (📷UCSD)

At sunrise on the shores of Lake Victoria, Amina steps into a wetland she helped bring back to life. Birds have returned. The water runs clearer. The land is healing.

But a new question is rising with the morning light: now that nature has value, who gets paid?

Five years ago, this land in eastern Uganda was degraded and ignored. Today, it could generate biodiversity credits for global buyers. For Amina, that promise is both opportunity and uncertainty—because in a world chasing nature-positive investments, the real test is no longer restoration. It is who owns the value of nature.

The stakes are massive. The global biodiversity financing gap stands at around US$700 billion per year (UNEP, 2023; UK Government, 2025). Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), countries committed to mobilising at least US$200 billion annually by 2030 (CBD, 2022). Yet flows to developing countries reached only US$29.8 billion in 2023, up from US$13 billion in 2019—progress, but nowhere near the scale required (UK Government, 2025).

Uganda is not waiting. Its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan III (NBSAP III, 2025–2030) puts a price tag on ambition—about US$306.7 million per year—and backs it with a National Biodiversity Finance Plan to close the gap (NEMA, 2025; UNDP BIOFIN, 2024). The direction is clear: mobilise private capital, scale innovative finance, and ensure benefits reach the people managing ecosystems (NEMA, 2025).

This is where biodiversity credit markets enter—with promise and risk.

In Amina’s community, a proposal is on the table: turn their restored wetland into tradable biodiversity credits. The logic is simple: measure ecological gains, verify them, and sell them. Global capital meets local conservation.

But the details tell a different story.

• Who owns the credits?
• Who sets the price?
• Who carries the risk if the ecosystem fails?

And most importantly: who captures the value?

Right now, the system is not designed in favour of communities. In 2023, only about US$1.1 billion reached Indigenous Peoples and local communities, despite their central role as stewards of biodiversity (UK Government, 2025). Most finance remains externally controlled, with local actors positioned at the bottom of the value chain (UNDP BIOFIN, 2024).

If East Africa gets this wrong, biodiversity credits will simply become the next extractive market—green in label, unequal in practice.

If it gets it right, it can become a breakthrough tool for financing nature and equity.

That line will be drawn by how partnerships are structured.

First of all, ownership is non-negotiable. Uganda’s NBSAP III is explicit—biodiversity governance must be inclusive and equitable (NEMA, 2025). Communities must hold clear rights over land, data, and the ecological outcomes they generate. Without this, credits are just another commodity extracted from rural landscapes.

Secondly, benefit-sharing must be real. Not short-term project payments, but long-term income tied to ecosystem performance. Transparent pricing. Fair contracts. Revenue models that reward stewardship—not just labour.

Thirdly, integrity determines value. Biodiversity credits only work if they are credible. That means strong baselines, independent verification, and enforceable standards (OECD, 2023). Weak systems will collapse trust—and with it, the market.

Fourthly,  public finance must unlock private capital. Blended finance is not optional. It is the bridge. Globally, around US$1.7 billion in private biodiversity finance was mobilised in 2023 through public leverage mechanisms—a signal of momentum, but still early-stage (Finance for Biodiversity Initiative, 2025). Scaling requires governments to de-risk markets so communities can participate, not just observe.

Back in the wetland, Amina’s reality is simple. The frogs are louder. The soil holds water again. The ecosystem is recovering.

Now the system around it must catch up.

Because “acting locally for global impact” is the theme of the International Biodiversity Day 2026, it will only mean something if local actors are not just restoring nature, but owning its value.

That is the real test for East Africa. Not whether biodiversity can be priced.

But whether it can be priced fairly.

References:

• CBD (2022) Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Target 19
• Finance for Biodiversity Initiative (2025) Trends in Private Biodiversity Finance
• NEMA (2025) Uganda National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan III (2025–2030)
• OECD (2023) Scaling Up Biodiversity-Positive Incentives
• UK Government (2025) Biodiversity Finance Trends Dashboard
• UNEP (2023) State of Finance for Nature
• UNDP BIOFIN (2024) Uganda National Biodiversity Finance Plan

Shared Waters, Shared Responsibility: Building a Circular Blue Economy on Lake Victoria

 

The floating solar-powered lamp in position to attract the silver fish. The lamps are placed just after sunset to provide light that attracts the silver fish to the surface. Later, the fishermen spread their nets below the light to catch the fish 

(📷: waterjournalistsafrica.com, 2021)

At dawn on the shores of Lake Victoria in Homa Bay, Kenya, Juma wipes rainwater from his face as he pulls in his fishing nets. The catch is smaller than it was five years ago. Beside him, his son carefully lifts a floating solar lamp from the canoe — a fragile but important tool that now helps the family fish through the night without relying on expensive kerosene. Across the lake in Mwanza, Tanzania, Rehema turns rows of silver fish (locally known as dagaa) drying under a solar-powered tent while calculating whether today’s earnings will cover school fees. In Uganda’s Kalangala Islands, Moses studies the darkening clouds before setting off onto increasingly unpredictable waters.

Though separated by borders, their stories are connected by one reality: Lake Victoria is changing, and so must the livelihoods that depend on it.

For generations, fishing communities around Africa’s largest lake have relied on kerosene lanterns and battery-powered lamps to attract omena and dagaa during night fishing. But those technologies have come at a heavy price. Rising fuel costs, toxic battery waste, fire risks, and pollution have steadily increased pressure on a lake that already supports more than 40 million people across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda (Siemens Stiftung, 2024).

Today, solar fishing lights and other environmentally friendly fishing technologies are emerging as part of a growing effort to make fisheries on Lake Victoria more sustainable and climate resilient. Yet their real promise goes beyond clean energy. They also represent an opportunity to build a more circular economy around the lake — one where materials are reused, waste is reduced, and natural resources are protected instead of depleted.

That matters because Lake Victoria’s environmental crisis is not only about overfishing. It is also about how communities produce, consume, and dispose of materials. Discarded fishing nets, damaged batteries, plastic waste, untreated industrial discharge, and poor waste management practices continue to pollute shorelines and waterways.

Hence, the transition to solar fishing technologies is not simply about replacing kerosene lamps and lead-acid batteries. It is about rethinking how Lake Victoria’s fisheries economy produces, uses, repairs, and disposes of resources in ways that protect both livelihoods and ecosystems.

Solar Fishing Lights Gain Ground — Unevenly

Projects such as WePower – WeTu in Kenya are beginning to show how cleaner and more circular approaches can work in practice. WePower’s approach involves taking deliberate steps, starting with introducing solar-charged fishing lanterns and eco-friendly floaters. By renting our lanterns to their clients, WePower – WeTu  takes care of the charging and maintenance of our products to ensure quality and an environmentally sound reuse and recycling process. Their solar-powered lanterns are designed to last longer, reduce fuel dependency, and lower heavy-metal pollution caused by disposable batteries (Siemens Stiftung, 2024).

However, a regional study by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO, 2024) revealed that over 90% of fishers in Kenya and Tanzania are using battery-powered solar lights, while in Uganda, the use of Solar lights was slowed down by a ban following a claim that it leads to catching of immature Nile perch. However, this was overturned after a study by the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NAFIRRI) that found usage of electric solar lamps during fishing on water bodies to be safe and environmentally friendly.  

But Dr Brian Isabirye, Commissioner in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, revealed the Ugandan government will not rush to ban the usage of paraffin lanterns, but would instead promote the use of electric solar lights, increase access and facilitate loans to enable fishermen to acquire the lighting systems. “We shall not ban the use of kerosene lanterns now, but rather encourage the fishermen to access the solar lights. We shall work with the traders and the entire private sector to provide the lights to the fishing communities,” he added (The Daily Monitor, August 14, 2023).

In Tanzania, the Fisheries Union Organisation (FUO), based in Mwanza region, Tanzania, working together with Sagar Energy Solutions Co. Ltd, through dialogue-based community meetings, reached out to more than 500 community members on the islands of Ito, Nfulubizi, and Ikulu in Buchosa District, who  expressed concern over the misuse of lead-acid batteries in fishing activities. 

At the same time, FUO introduced the option of solar-powered fishing lights to them as a safer, clean-energy alternative that reduces toxic exposure and protects aquatic life. FUO warns that ‘Used batteries are often discarded directly into the lake or placed carelessly near fish after harvesting, allowing toxic chemicals and heavy metals to contaminate water and fish consumed by communities’. Many participants reported that the sessions had corrected previous misconceptions about solar lamps, especially regarding their durability, effectiveness, and economic benefits.

Circularity opportunities from the use of solar lights

Repairing solar lamps, recycling batteries, reusing fishing materials, and developing local maintenance systems can create jobs for young people around the lake while reducing waste. This is in addition to fish waste itself, which is already being reused as organic fertiliser, animal feed, or biogas instead of being discarded into waterways. In the Lake Victoria basin, where youth unemployment remains high, these circular economy opportunities could strengthen livelihoods beyond fishing alone.

For families like Juma’s, the benefits are practical and immediate. Solar lamps reduce spending on kerosene, improve visibility at night, and reduce exposure to smoke and toxic fumes. Researchers from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI) have also found that LED solar lights can attract fish more efficiently because the light penetrates deeper into the water than traditional kerosene lanterns (The Star Kenya, 2024). According to WePower – WeTu, by the end of 2024, over 430 fishermen across three counties in Western Kenya’s Lake Victoria region had adopted solar fishing lanterns, thereby promoting efficient and sustainable fishing of silverfish.

‘This innovation has enhanced safety and productivity in night-time fishing while reducing reliance on harmful kerosene lamps and lead-acid batteries, WePower – WeTu’s 2024 Report notes in part.

Barriers to the adoption of solar fishing technologies

Yet despite growing interest, access to solar fishing technologies remains deeply unequal across the lake basin.

For example, Moses explains that purchasing solar fishing equipment still requires money that many fishing households simply do not have. A boat may need several solar lamps every night, and replacing damaged batteries or lighting systems can cost more than a family earns in weeks.

Although East African governments have promoted renewable energy in recent years, fishers and cooperatives argue that solar fishing equipment still faces high taxes, import duties, and transport costs that keep prices unaffordable for poorer communities (IEA, 2025).

The absence of targeted tax exemptions and import duty relief for solar fishing technologies has become a growing frustration around the lake. Many fishers believe governments treat solar fishing tools as luxury products instead of essential livelihood equipment. As a result, cleaner technologies remain concentrated among wealthier boat owners, while poorer fishers continue relying on cheaper but more polluting kerosene systems.

In this regard, FUO and its partners continue to call upon the Tanzanian Government, the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), and all relevant authorities to take immediate action by removing taxes on solar fishing lights to protect public health, preserve the Lake Victoria ecosystem, and promote safe, sustainable fishing practices for present and future generations. ‘The adoption of solar fishing lights continues to face serious challenges because battery-powered lights remain cheaper on the market, while solar lights are heavily affected by import duties and taxes', FUO emphasises in one of its public statements.

Beyond the use of solar lights, wider Lake Victoria challenges persist

Other barriers persist, too. Some landing sites lack charging infrastructure, maintenance services, spare parts, recycling systems, or access to affordable financing. Theft of solar equipment has also discouraged adoption in certain fishing communities. Without stronger circular systems for repair, reuse, and recycling, even green technologies risk creating new waste challenges in the future.

And even where green technologies are adopted, they cannot solve the Lake’s deeper environmental crisis on their own.

Fish stocks continue to decline due to overfishing, illegal fishing gear, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Plastic waste washes onto beaches after heavy rains, while unpredictable weather patterns make fishing seasons increasingly dangerous and uncertain (Associated Press, 2023). Rising water temperatures and ecosystem degradation are also threatening biodiversity and food security across the basin.

These realities reflect broader concerns raised in the latest UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025. According to the report, only 35% of global SDG targets are currently on track or making moderate progress, while nearly half are progressing too slowly and 18% have regressed (UN DESA, 2025). Progress on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life below Water) remains particularly uneven in many developing regions, including East Africa.

As the region warms up to the Lake Victoria Day 2026 celebrations in Mwanza, these conversations are becoming more urgent. The event is expected to spotlight renewable energy, sustainable fisheries, environmental conservation, and community-led solutions across the lake basin.

But Lake Victoria Day should be more than a celebration. It should be a turning point.

This is because Lake Victoria is not just a body of water. It is food, transport, employment, culture, and identity for millions of East Africans. Protecting it requires more than pilot projects and speeches. It requires governments to invest seriously in affordable green technologies, remove taxes and import barriers on solar fishing equipment, strengthen fisheries governance, and support circular economy solutions that reduce waste while creating jobs and protecting ecosystems.

Communities around the lake are already showing willingness to adapt. Fishers like Juma, Rehema, and Moses are proving that sustainability and circularity are possible when innovation meets local knowledge and lived realities.

The real question ahead of Lake Victoria Day 2026 is whether policymakers, businesses, and development partners are willing to match that commitment.

It is therefore imperative for Governments to allow  targeted tax exemptions for certified solar fishing equipment, enforce regional standards for safe battery disposal and recycling, and support concessional financing for fishing cooperatives and groups and incentivise investment in community-based repair and maintenance centres across landing sites.

The truth is that the future of Lake Victoria will not be secured by technology alone. It will depend on whether East Africa chooses to build a circular and inclusive blue economy that places its people — and the waters that sustain them — at the centre of development.

References

1. Associated Press. (2023). Pollution and environmental pressure on Lake Victoria.
2. International Energy Agency (IEA). (2025). Tax Incentives for Renewable Energy.
3. Fisheries Union Organisation:  www.fuo.or.tz (Taasisi ya Muungano wa Wavuvi) and statements to the Government of Tanzania
4. Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO). (2023). Sustainable Fishing Technologies Programme.
5. Siemens Stiftung. (2024). WePower: Clean solar lamps for fishermen at Lake Victoria.
6. The Star Kenya. (2024). Solar lights changing lives of Lake Victoria fishermen.
7. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). (2025). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025.
8. The Daily Monitor (August 14, 2023). New research okays solar light for fishing
9. WePower – WeTu: https://wetu.co.ke/wepower/