The mountains of Africa provide water and food, rich biodiversity, recreational areas and serve as important centres of cultural integrity and heritage. However, Africa faces growing challenges in ensuring the sustainable development of mountain areas, such as poverty and climate change and addressing the feat of transboundary co-operation. Through use and integration of local and indigenous knowledge, supporting green investments and addressing the multidimensional nature of poverty and food security, these challenges can be surmounted. The Africa Mountains Atlas defines these challenges and presents the associated opportunities that can be seized to prevent unsustainable development of Africa’s mountain ecosystems.