Impact to date
To help put this into practice, GFDRR developed the NBS Opportunity Scan, a transformative tool for identifying investment opportunities in urban and coastal resilience using nature-based approaches. In just six weeks, and applicable in any city or coastal landscape in the world, the NBS Opportunity Scan uses geospatial analysis to identify the types and locations of NBS where climate resilience benefits are greatest.
Since its launch, the NBS Opportunity Scan has been applied in 100 cities and across 5,000 kilometers of coastal landscapes in 40 countries. Its insights have helped shape an estimated $1.8 billion in project components containing NBS.
Critically, the tool played a role in identifying investments for 11 out of the 40 World Bank lending operations with urban or coastal NBS components approved in 2023 and 2024, accounting for 28% of such projects during that period.
A recent survey of project team leaders confirmed the tool’s practical value throughout the project cycle. Four out of five respondents said the NBS Opportunity Scan helped raise awareness and start early discussions with clients and stakeholders. An equal number reported using the tool to identify NBS investments, including the types and locations of interventions during project preparation. More than two-thirds used the results to inform pre-feasibility studies, while two out of five noted the tool’s value in supporting design review and ongoing implementation.
Making a difference on the ground
In Indonesia, the NBS Opportunity Scan is helping shape a major effort to reduce urban flooding. The $400 million Indonesia: National Urban Resilience Project, is combining traditional infrastructure with nature-based approaches to better manage stormwaters in cities including Banjarmasin, Bima, Manado, Medan, and Semarang. By using the NBS Opportunity Scan early in project design, teams were able to rethink existing flood infrastructure designs and develop more integrated urban flood resilience action plans.
As pictured below, in Manado, these solutions include open green spaces, retention areas and parks to increase water storage capacity. Green corridors and urban forest can reduce urban heat, while protecting and widening river floodplains will not only limit flooding but will also provide recreational spaces for the community.