Johannesburg, April 22, 2026—A new nature-based EcoFilter system in Johannesburg is transforming how polluted urban rivers can be managed by combining water treatment, real-time data generation, and community benefits in a single solution.

Installed in the Upper Jukskei River catchment, the EcoFilter system is designed to address persistent and chronic pollution challenges, including microbial contamination, excess nutrients, organic waste, and heavy metals. The system aims to provide accurate monitoring data, demonstrating the potential of nature-based solutions to improve water quality, while supporting the irrigation of women-led community gardens at Victoria Yards, in Johannesburg’s inner city.

The system will officially launch on April 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at Victoria Yards—16 Viljoen St, Lorentzville, Johannesburg. 

Designed to function like a natural wetland, the system enables continuous water-quality monitoring, generating long-term datasets to assess performance and inform evidence-based decision making. These data will help document progress, highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges in catchment management while supporting learning and replication in other parts of Johannesburg and across sub-Saharan Africa.

The EcoFilter consists of modular 1,000-litre units arranged in a series of ecological treatment cells that support both anaerobic and aerobic processes for water purification. While its primary function is to support biophysical monitoring of the Jukskei River and to evaluate its benefits for improving water quality, it also delivers direct benefits to the local community by supplying water for the irrigation of community gardens in the area. It will also provide a platform for education and research.

The system was developed under the SUNCASA project (Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa) through a collaboration between Isidima Design and Development, Water For The Future, Zutari, and the University of Johannesburg. The system will be operated by trained staff from Water for the Future (WFTF).

SUNCASA works with local partners and communities to restore the Upper Jukskei River catchment through nature-based solutions. Interventions include removing invasive species and riverine waste, restoring riparian buffer zones, and expanding green spaces by planting indigenous vegetation. These interventions aim to strengthen the climate resilience of more than 1 million residents, particularly in relation to flooding, erosion, and water pollution.

QUOTES

“The City of Johannesburg is committed to transitioning from reactive pollution management to innovative, sustainable solutions that restore the health of our urban rivers. The implementation of the eco-filter system in the Upper Jukskei River catchment represents a significant step forward in integrating nature-based solutions with smart monitoring technologies.

This initiative not only improves water quality and strengthens our ability to respond to pollution in real time but also demonstrates how environmental interventions can deliver meaningful socio-economic benefits. By supporting community-led urban agriculture at Victoria Yards, the project contributes to food security, job creation, and inclusive development.

As a city, we see this as a scalable model for urban water resilience—one that aligns with our broader objectives of ecological restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable service delivery.”— Daniel Masemola, Director of water management and biodiversity, City of Johannesburg

“The EcoFilter system offers an innovative approach to improving water quality while generating the data needed to support scaling, policy relevance, and learning across SUNCASA. While it is not designed to make Jukskei water potable or address catchment-wide pollution on its own, it provides a visible, monitored bioremediation node, reducing pollution loads and demonstrating the potential of integrated green infrastructure at scale. We believe this solution can be successfully replicated in other cities.”— Richard Grosshans, IISD and SUNCASA bioremediation lead

“Protecting communities and river ecosystems will require eco‑filters to move from pilots to city‑wide deployment as a core part of Johannesburg’s wastewater treatment strategy.”—Amanda Gcanga, WRI country lead for urban water resilience &  senior urban policy analyst, and SUNCASA lead in Johannesburg

“Since 2017, WFTF has spearheaded the vision for a rehabilitated Jukskei, securing the land and pioneering the scientific partnerships—such as our work with Dr. Simon Lorentz (SRK Consulting) and UJ-PEETS—that ultimately made this EcoFilter possible. This system is the next evolution of our nature-based strategy, through which WFTF has transformed brownfields into thriving, women-led urban agricultural sites. By integrating years of river monitoring with community-driven action, we aren’t just filtering water; we are proving that local leadership is the essential catalyst for urban resilience. We are proud that our foundational work, including the water monitoring station established with Dr. Lorentz and continuous testing by Dr. Kousar Hoorzook and her team at UJ-PEETS, created the blueprint for SUNCASA to assist in scaling these vital interventions. For WFTF, this project represents the culmination of a community’s commitment to reclaiming their environment and securing a climate-resilient future for the Upper Jukskei.”— Romy Strander, Water for the Future 

“We have been monitoring the Jukskei River discharge, water quality, and meteorology at Victoria Yards in collaboration with Water for the Future for the past 6 years to improve our knowledge of urban hydrology and provide information for remediation systems like the EcoFilter." — Dr Simon Lorentz, SRK Consulting (SA) 

“The Jukskei River is in a poor state—and we should not accept that. This project is a demonstration, a practical step to show what works so we can do more of it across the city. It also needs to create opportunities for the people living closest to these conditions. What we’re learning is that nature-based solutions and placemaking are one system—when you repair the environment, you restore the place. ”— David van Niekerk, CEO, Johannesburg Inner City Partnership

MEDIA CONTACTS

Cesar Henrique Arrais, Senior Communications Officer, IISD; [email protected]

Bridget van Oerle, Marketing Manager, JICP; [email protected]

Muskaan Malik, Communications Manager, Water For The Future; [email protected]

South African municipalities receive less than 10% of the country’s climate finance, despite being responsible for delivering local infrastructure for the just energy transition, leaving a major funding gap, new research finds.

The report shows that South Africa needs around ZAR 1.5 trillion (USD 81.83 billion) between 2023 and 2027 to finance its energy transition. Municipalities alone need about ZAR 200 billion (USD 10.91 billion), but city-level projects received just ZAR 1.71 billion (USD 93.3 million) in 2024, underscoring the scale of the funding gap facing local governments.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development report Bridging the Gap: Financing Mechanisms for Municipal Energy Transitions in South Africa comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the governance and financial challenges facing local governments in the 2026 State of the Nation Address and called for structural reforms to strengthen the municipal funding model.

The findings also reflect a broader global trend, with cities receiving only about 10%–15% of total climate finance—but the gap is particularly stark in South Africa. While total climate finance has increased, reaching ZAR 239 billion (USD 14.06 billion) in 2024, municipalities still struggle to access these funds due to low creditworthiness, limited technical capacity, and limited financing channels.

“Municipalities are on the front lines of South Africa’s energy transition, yet they receive only a small share of climate finance,” says Bathandwa Vazi, Policy Advisor at IISD. “Without stronger financial mechanisms and targeted support, local governments will struggle to deliver the infrastructure and investments needed for a just and effective transition.”

Municipal finances further constrain investment. Property rates and service charges account for 62.5% of operating budgets, while national transfers make up 25%, leaving limited fiscal flexibility. A 2023 IISD survey shows municipalities rely heavily on their own revenues, with limited use of debt financing—highlighting institutional barriers to borrowing. Smaller and rural municipalities face even greater constraints.

Why Climate Finance Is Not Reaching Cities 

The report also finds that the structure of climate finance itself makes it difficult for municipalities to access funding. Around 64% of available climate finance is directed toward clean energy projects, through large-scale private investments and debt instruments. Adaptation and locally led initiatives receive far smaller shares, a design that tends to favour national or private sector projects over municipal ones.

Between 2022 and 2023, South Africa mobilized about ZAR 10 billion (USD 611 million) in green finance grants across 160 projects implemented by 90 agencies. However, publicly available data does not specify how much of this funding went to municipalities. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to track whether climate finance is supporting local governments responsible for delivering much of the infrastructure needed for the energy transition.

A related imbalance is seen in the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan. While billions have been allocated to national priorities such as electricity infrastructure and green hydrogen, municipal projects received only ZAR 1.71 billion (USD 93.3 million) in 2024—less than one sixth of total funding—highlighting a persistent gap at the local level.

“South Africa’s energy transition will not be socially just or economically viable unless municipalities—particularly smaller and under-resourced ones—have the tools, financing, and institutional support needed to implement renewable energy projects, modernize electricity grids, and strengthen climate resilience,” concludes Vazi. “Empowering municipalities will ultimately determine whether the transition succeeds on the ground.” 

Closing this gap will require strengthening municipal capacity to develop bankable projects, improving transparency in climate finance tracking, expanding access to blended and concessional finance, and fostering partnerships between municipalities, development banks, and the private sector.

Media Contacts

Bathandwa Vazi, Policy Advisor, IISD, [email protected] 

Madhulika Verma, Senior Communications Officer, [email protected]   

In the second year of the SUNCASA project, which focuses on harnessing the power of nature to adapt to the impacts of climate change, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia's second-largest city, has already exceeded its agroforestry targets, restoring or revitalizing more than 550 ha of land and planting more than 500,000 trees. The 95 ha of established buffer zones have also exceeded targets. Experts who led or supported these efforts will be sharing critical lessons learned from the experience at an upcoming event.

A peer-learning event taking place from January 26 to 29 will convene partners from Dire Dawa, as well as Kigali (Rwanda) and Johannesburg (South Africa), to discuss early impacts in each city, long-term sustainability goals, and the potential scalability of SUNCASA’s nature-based solutions (NbS), which also promote gender equality and social inclusion. Hosted at the Sharaf Hotel, the event will open at 9:30 a.m. local time with remarks from the Mayor of Dire Dawa, H.E. Kedir Juhar. 

As the host city, Dire Dawa will spotlight the unique challenges of implementing NbS in arid and semi-arid environments. Experts from the Dire Dawa Administration, Haramaya University, and the Hararghe Catholic Secretariat will lead discussions on local constraints—including limited water availability, extreme temperatures, and shallow soils—while also highlighting the strategies that have enabled the city to achieve a remarkable 94% tree survival rate under these conditions. 

Held under the theme “Green Cities for People and Planet,” the event will focus on the opportunities and challenges shaping the project’s final year. Through peer-led discussions, technical exchanges, and site visits, partners will reflect on progress to date and explore how SUNCASA’s results, partnerships, and lessons can be leveraged to secure sustained political, institutional, and financial support for NbS as an inclusive pathway to climate-resilient urban development. 

“The Dire Dawa peer learning event marks an important step forward for SUNCASA, creating space not only to exchange best practices, but to reflect critically on what it takes to deliver lasting impact,” said Samantha Boardley, SUNCASA’s interim project lead and one of the event’s lead facilitators. 

Partners from Kigali will showcase strong progress in agroforestry, with 1,344 ha planted, alongside the expansion of urban green spaces where more than 108,000 trees had been planted by September 20, 2025. Discussions will also highlight innovative community engagement approaches, including student-led climate action initiatives, nursery creation to support parents involved in project activities, and measures to prevent gender-based violence at project sites.

From Johannesburg, participants will share lessons from efforts to restore the Jukskei River, including the removal of alien invasive species and debris, the establishment of buffer zones, and extensive urban tree planting. Partners will also present successful public engagement initiatives, such as environmental education activities in Alexandra Township and the “Art and Litter Traps” project, which transforms waste collected from the river into sculptures and functional litter traps to address flooding and pollution.

Launched in 2024, SUNCASA is a 3-year initiative developed and implemented in close collaboration with local organizations. Delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) with funding from the Government of Canada, the project aims to strengthen climate resilience, promote gender equality and social inclusion, and protect biodiversity in urban communities across Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa. An estimated 2.2 million people living in climate-vulnerable areas benefit from this project.

SUNCASA’s 2nd Peer Learning Event

Where: Sharaf Hotel, 3000 Sabyian Sabian sub city, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Available Interviews
H.E. Kedir Juhar, Mayor of Dire Dawa City Administration
Benjamin Simmons, SUNCASA Senior Director, IISD
Aklilu Fikresilassie, Director, Thriving Resilient Cities, WRI Africa
Project scientists and community leads are available for interviews. (Please request in advance to confirm availability.)

 

Quotes

“In a short period of time, SUNCASA has shown what is possible when communities are placed at the centre of restoration. By restoring Dire Dawa's land, creating green jobs for women and youth, and protecting our natural habitats with more than a million trees, we are proving that environmental action can also strengthen livelihoods and well-being. We're pleased to share these lessons with other cities as part of this exchange.” 

—H.E. Kedir Juhar, Mayor of Dire Dawa

“What we are learning in Dire Dawa through SUNCASA has relevance far beyond this city. The results show how coordinated and locally led implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) can be scaled and replicated in other climate-vulnerable cities facing water and land degradation challenges. Peer learning is an important platform for sharing these insights and more."

—Aklilu Fikresilassie, Regional Director for Cities, WRI Africa

“The Dire Dawa peer-learning event marks an important step forward for SUNCASA, creating space not only to exchange best practices, but to reflect critically on what it takes to deliver lasting impact. Anchored in site visits, peer-led dialogue, and technical exchange around the themes of (Re)Connect, Explore, Engage, and Sustain, the event will elevate city experiences while turning attention to sustainability and scale. At a time when expectations for nature-based solutions are higher than ever, this event invites partners to build trust, challenge norms, and explore how SUNCASA’s results, relationships, and lessons can extend far beyond the life of the project.”

—Samantha Boardley, IISD’s climate adaptation, PLE2 Lead Facilitator.

SUNCASA NbS Implementation Progress

• Afforestation - 244/565 ha (43%)  
• Agroforestry – 1,703/1,585 ha (107%)  
• Buffer zones – 660/974 ha (70%)  
• Reforestation – 68/494 ha (11%)  
• Urban greening – 134,669/ 143,500 trees planted (94%)  
• Invasive plant removal – 120/117.3 hectares cleared (78%)  
  
  *As of September 30, 2025  
   

For media inquiries, please contact:

Cesar Henrique Arrais, Senior Communications Officer, IISD, [email protected]
Eden Takele, Engagement & Communications Specialist, WRI Africa, [email protected] 

In 2024, water quality monitoring in Johannesburg’s Jukskei catchment, South Africa, revealed a remarkable seasonal pattern: concentrations of sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, ammonia, and chemical oxygen demand surged during the dry winter months of June to August—when rainfall was at its lowest—before dropping sharply in the rainy season from October to April. Collected by the City of Johannesburg’s Department of Environment, Infrastructure and Services, these findings show how rainfall-driven surface runoff dilutes pollutants in wetter months, while drier conditions concentrate them, offering crucial insight into the catchment’s ecological health. 

Such findings, obtained through rigorous analysis of biophysical data, informed the design and selection of nature-based solutions (NbS) interventions—for example, the use of biofilters to reduce water pollution—within the SUNCASA project (Scaling Urban Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa) in Johannesburg. This highlights how biophysical monitoring is essential not only for tracking environmental indicators such as water quality, soil erosion, and flood risk—and making adjustments as needed—but also for scaling up successful interventions.

Operating in water catchments of three major African cities—besides Johannesburg, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, and Kigali, Rwanda—SUNCASA project teams are planting millions of trees and removing invasive species to demonstrate how NbS interventions can deliver better returns on investment than traditional grey infrastructure for cities trying to reduce flash flood damage and tackle other growing climate change impacts. Rigorous, consistent data—like how effectively the project’s biofilters impact Johannesburg’s seasonal swings in pollutants—provides the feedback needed to refine SUNCASA’s strategies, attract investment, win over policymakers, and strengthen natural infrastructure that delivers multiple social, environmental, and economic benefits. 

The Challenge: Building robust monitoring systems

Effective biophysical monitoring depends on more than occasional data collection. It requires extensive investments in reliable monitoring systems anchored on robust data collection regimes and sound institutional frameworks. Tools, models, and technical skills are also needed to transform monitoring data into actionable insights and knowledge products which can support decision-making and adaptive management. 

In many catchments across Sub-Saharan Africa, regular monitoring is limited or absent, with existing datasets often incomplete or inconsistent due to gaps, duplication, or errors. Contributing factors include aging equipment, insufficient funding, limited technical capacity, and even vandalism of monitoring stations. The need for expertise in artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and data science is growing, as these fields are key to turning complex, multi-source datasets into guidance for community leaders.

SUNCASA’s biophysical monitoring approach 

In SUNCASA, the impact of NbS interventions is tracked by monitoring key biophysical parameters, such as improvement in water quality and quantity, changes in soil condition and health, soil erosion control, and reduction in floods and landslides vulnerability. Both baseline and monitoring data are gathered from primary and secondary sources, such as regular government monitoring data (e.g., water quality), global data repositories from remote sensing missions, and data portals hosting various biophysical datasets for each of the three SUNCASA project cities. This information—often in different formats, scales, and resolutions—must be standardized and processed before integrating it with on-the-ground measurements. 

The situation varies between project sites:

• Dire Dawa – No recent formal monitoring has taken place, limiting effective resource management.
• Kigali – The Rwanda Water Board operates automatic hydrometric stations, but other biophysical data is typically gathered only when needed.
• Johannesburg – The city conducts monthly water quality sampling in its catchment but requires additional hydrometric stations to enhance flood modelling and improve understanding of the hydrological regime.

Catchments with limited to no monitoring data can use secondary data from Earth observation missions to monitor environmental changes at NbS implementation sites. In SUNCASA, satellite imagery, such as Sentinel-2 from the European Space Agency, and Landsat from the United States Geological Survey, is being used in Dire Dawa to monitor soil moisture anomalies between precipitation, surface and sub-surface soil moisture content. Vegetation indices (e.g., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Enhanced Vegetation Index) are also being used to track vegetation health and changes in our NbS intervention sites. 

Across all three cities, NbS scenarios are being applied with hydrological and hydraulic models to understand how different interventions improve flood mitigation outcomes. In the Dechatu (Dire Dawa) and Jukskei (Johannesburg) catchments, SUNCASA is also supporting monitoring efforts by investing in additional monitoring equipment to carry out regular data collection. 

For instance, in Dire Dawa, a multiparameter probe and contact gauge meter have been acquired to monitor groundwater quality and water level, respectively, to measure long-term impacts of NbS activities on groundwater recharge. In Johannesburg, the installation of additional stream gauge equipment in the Jukskei River will provide data to improve hydrological model performance and calibration, which in turn improves the accuracy of flood models and gives earlier warnings to the city.

Engaging communities in monitoring

In Sub-Saharan Africa, where an average of around 60% of people depend on agriculture, soil erosion and drought threaten food security by removing nutrient-rich topsoil. Natural ecosystems, such as trees and wetlands, help protect soil, purify air, and recharge groundwater—services that benefit communities directly.

SUNCASA is exploring participatory monitoring tools to involve community members in NbS biophysical monitoring. The growing availability of smartphones and mobile apps creates opportunities for citizen science, allowing community members to contribute to data collection, observation, and analysis—helping safeguard the ecosystems they depend on.