Paper short abstract:

Through the lens of transnational governance, this paper examines how different discourses of nature-based solutions (NBS) translate to the ground in climate-related initiatives in Madagascar and Malawi, by whom, and with what potential consequences for urban nature and society.

Paper long abstract:

Globally, in academia as well as policy circles, nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly promoted as ways to address the interlinked climate and biodiversity crisis toward greener and more resilient cities. The concept conjures lofty promises, as NBS are seen to provide simultaneously economic, social, and environmental benefits. It remains underexplored to what extent and effect the global discourse influences how climate futures in urban Africa are being imagined and planned for.

Various transnational actors (multilateral entities, donors, NGOs, city networks) promote NBS in urban Africa. Recent research suggests that they predominantly frame urban nature as a solution to address flood related risks and that integrated benefits including job creation, biodiversity and water quality are strongly emphasized. This paper interrogates how these discourses translate into practice.

To that end, the trajectories of transnational actor-driven NBS projects in Morondava (Madagascar), Zomba and Lilongwe (Malawi) are compared. Semi-structured interviews with executing entities, funders, national and local governments as well as community representatives involved in the design and implementation of these projects are undertaken. The results of analysis elicit factors and dynamics influencing the realisation of NBS in the case studies: Who is included/excluded from agenda setting, what frames/meaning of urban nature come to be deployed, with what implications for the kinds of NBS realised and for who is benefitting from these initiatives. This allows to critically reflect on current trends of how urban nature is integrated into imagining and planning for climate futures in Africa through the lens of transnational urban climate governance.