About DeltasUNite

DeltasUNite is a multi-stakeholder network of organisations led by African Centre for Climate Actions and Rural Development Initiative (ACCARD). DeltasUNite is made up of:

  • Indigenous peoples

  • Local community-based interest groups

  • Local community and civil society organisations 

  • Academic institutions and research groups

  • Governments at all levels

  • Representatives of the private sector and businesses

All of whom are working together to advance global efforts for delta resilience and sustainability.

The Issue

A man stands in shallow water, holding a large woven mat.

River deltas are home to over half a billion people worldwide whose livelihood and/or survival depends on them. They, along with their wider, often transboundary, water basins, are undergoing rapid, accelerating and disruptive changes.

Climate change-induced stressors such as sea-level rise, acidification and flooding amplify the impact of anthropogenic activities such as urbanization and extractive industries as well as oil, gas and plastic pollution. Combined these pose severe threats to both human populations and biodiversity. 

Delta degradation is having a severe impact on livelihood security including food shortages, forced migration, and pollution tipping points. This necessitates immediate and effective governance to ensure sustainable development and water resources for all nations.

Notable examples of Deltas experiencing this issue: inter alia the Mekong River Delta, Niger River Delta, Indus River Delta, Nile River Deltas, Okavango River Delta, and Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta and Mississippi Delta.

The Mission

DeltasUNite gives a voice and a decision-making seat to delta community members, and stakeholders working on the frontlines of deltas challenges. Through participatory action in delta governance these groups are best placed to shape climate adaptation and mitigation, designing early warning and early action systems. By enacting local solutions to delta challenges this builds up the economic development and resilience of deltas.

The Vision

A woman speaking into a microphone at a conference or event, wearing a colorful traditional African outfit with name badge, water bottle on the table, in an indoor setting.

DeltasUNite is shifting the status quo from current top-down approaches to a new model where local actors have greater power and resources to build resilience to the impacts of climate change. We’re calling on the United Nations (UN) for the declaration of an International Delta Day and to operationalise the advanced United Nations Convention on River Deltas.

There is an emerging UN Convention on River Deltas. It is a United Nations SDG initiative with number #SDGAction51947.