Ambassador Seyni Nafo Carries Africa's Adaptation Agenda to Ottawa

Africa Adaptation Initiative Coordinator and Green Climate Fund co-chair meets Canadian ministers, parliamentarians, and civil society to advance the Canada-Africa climate partnership.

Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) Coordinator and Green Climate Fund co-chair Ambassador Seyni Nafo travelled to Ottawa in early June for a series of strategic meetings. The visit began on 6 June. Over several days, Ambassador Nafo met Canadian ministers, members of parliament, civil society practitioners, and officials from Global Affairs Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The meetings focused on climate finance, adaptation, and food security across Africa.

"I am here in Ottawa meeting our Canadian partners, Ministers, Members of Parliament and Canadian civil society," Ambassador Nafo said at the start of the visit. He pointed to Canada's leadership in climate finance and within the Green Climate Fund, and he thanked Climate Action Network Canada for "opening this space of honest and frank dialogue."

A roundtable on the future of the Green Climate Fund

Climate Action Network Canada hosted Ambassador Nafo for a roundtable with its members and partners. The conversation centred on the Green Climate Fund. The Fund allocates climate finance and helps communities in the Global South build resilience to climate events that grow more extreme and more frequent. It now faces rising financial constraints as countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom cut their contributions.

AAI used the roundtable to make a clear case. As Canada shapes how it allocates and delivers climate finance, it should prioritise high-quality, grant-based adaptation funding for the Global South. AAI thanked the network for the exchange and stressed that Canada's leadership is more critical than ever in this moment.

Bilateral meetings across government

A series of bilateral meetings with senior Canadian officials ran through the visit.

Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, opened the track. The discussion turned to deepening the Canada-Africa partnership, de-risking investment, and supporting responsible resource development, with youth, women, and communities at the centre. "I remain committed to work with you and your government so that AAI continues using Canada's funds to help de-risk investments," Ambassador Nafo said. He invited Oliphant to Africa. Oliphant later described the locally driven adaptation solutions advanced by African partners as commendable.

Food security innovation framed the conversation with Randeep Sarai, Canada's Secretary of State for International Development. Ambassador Nafo congratulated Canada for renewing its international climate finance commitment and for advancing financing tools that mobilise resources for vulnerable countries. He called Sarai a food security champion and pointed to shared work on Africa's climate-resilient food systems.

That same meeting drew warm words for AAI's communication work. Canadian partners praised the Initiative's case studies and visual materials. Sarai told the room the work was one of the most compelling ways of speaking about development he had seen. "I've been to 25 countries in Africa," he added, "what you are doing is exactly the right thing to support."

Talks with Mona Fortier, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, covered climate resilience, innovation, and sustainable investment. Food security innovation across the Francophonie anchored the exchange. "Delighted to have discussed ways to strengthen the relationship between Canada and Africa by focusing on innovation in the food security sector across the Francophonie," Ambassador Nafo said. Fortier noted that Canada remains a committed partner in supporting adaptation, promoting locally driven solutions, and working with international partners on the climate crisis.

A meeting with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault closed the Ottawa bilaterals, held as Ambassador Nafo worked to accelerate public and private climate finance for Africa. He thanked Guilbeault for his leadership and support to Africa over the years, including on increasing public and private financial resources for climate action.

A focus on the Francophonie and Quebec

A roundtable hosted by Quebec's Ministry of International Relations and the Francophonie closed the visit. Around the table sat Jean Lemire, Quebec's Envoy for Climate Change and Northern and Arctic Affairs, and Julie Gervais, Quebec's interim Delegate General in Dakar. Ambassador Nafo praised Quebec's leadership in advancing environmental and food security solutions in Africa and across the globe, and he pointed to the opportunities ahead to strengthen the Quebec-Africa relationship.

Across every meeting, Ambassador Nafo returned to one message. Africa-driven adaptation solutions, paired with strong international partnerships, build real resilience for the communities the climate crisis hits hardest. He committed to working with Canada to scale grant-based adaptation finance and climate-resilient food systems, and he invited Canadian partners to Africa.