Infrastructure is the backbone of economies, delivering essential services like transportation, energy and water. Yet infrastructure is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, and this vulnerability has been exacerbated by increased climate risks. It is estimated that 14 per cent of global GDP growth is at risk annually due to infrastructure losses from climate –related events, and populations in developing countries are particularly vulnerable.
Why investing in Nature-based Solutions?
The Global Infrastructure Hub estimates that meeting the global demand for services by 2040 will require almost US$100 trillion of investment in sustainable infrastructure. These services are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and other development objectives, and nature-based solutions can play a major role in delivering them in a cost-effective, sustainable, and resilient way.
Infrastructure systems consist of built infrastructure, natural infrastructure, and the enabling environment. To date, infrastructure investments have focused predominantly on built infrastructure systems, at the expense of the natural environment.
Nature can work alongside critical infrastructure to buffer climate risks and enhance resilience.
Recognising the urgent need to integrate Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into existing and new infrastructure, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), has launched the Nature-based Solutions Innovation Accelerator (NBS-IA). This 5-year global initiative aims to accelerate the uptake of NbS approaches to revamp infrastructure resilience. NBS-IA helps countries identify, design, prepare and integrate NbS in existing and future infrastructure.
How does NBS-IA work?
NBS-IA is a grant facility that supports countries to design and implement integrated NbS in existing and future infrastructure. Through competitive calls for proposals, the initiative will support consortia who can demonstrate the highest impact and innovation, as well as financial and operational viability.
The initiative will also help selected consortia to be connected to potential capital providers and investors, to accelerate innovation and ensure long-term impact.
NBS-IA will focus on Central Asia and Africa regions for selected types of infrastructure.
Eligible countries under Phase I of the initiative are:
- Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
- Africa: Algeria, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania
First Open Call for Proposals in Central Asia
You can download the Call for Proposals Framework Document, the overview of the application form and other templates upon completing a short form here. Updated deadline: 23:59 CET on 7 July 2026.
First Open Call for Proposals in Africa
You can download the Call for Proposals Framework Document, the overview of the application form and other templates upon completing a short form here. Updated deadline: 23:59 CET on 7 July 2026.
Past events:
- 3 June 2026 - Climate-resilient infrastructure: the Italian NBS-IA initiative (Eco Expo 2026)
- 24 April 2026 - Grant opportunities for improving Infrastructure resilience: the Italian NBS-IA initiative (RES 2026)
- 8 April 2026 - NBS-IA: Grant Support for Sustainable Port and Logistics Infrastructure through NbS in Africa (Watch the recording here)
- 2 April 2026 - NBS-IA: Grant Support for Sustainable Infrastructure through NbS in Central Asia (Watch the recording here)
For more information, please contact:
