Ambassador Seyni Nafo Re-elected Co-Chair of the Green Climate Fund for 2026

A renewed vote of confidence as the AAI marks 10 years of action

The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) warmly welcomes the re-election of its Coordinator, Ambassador Seyni Nafo, as Co-Chair of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for 2026.10 years of action

The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) warmly welcomes the re-election of its Coordinator, Ambassador Seyni Nafo, as Co-Chair of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for 2026.

This decision reflects a renewed vote of confidence by the GCF Board in Ambassador Nafo’s leadership at a pivotal moment for the Fund, and coincides with AAI marking a decade of sustained commitment to advancing climate adaptation across Africa.

Leadership delivering results

During his 2025 term as Co-Chair, the GCF reached its highest annual level of project approvals, underscoring a renewed institutional momentum at a time when climate finance must move faster and reach further. Under the Board’s leadership, including Ambassador Nafo’s stewardship, the Fund initiated historic reforms aimed at improving efficiency, access, and impact.

These reforms include:

• Fast-tracking accreditation and project approval, with a clear objective of reducing processing timelines to as little as nine months;

• A comprehensive review of the project cycle, designed to accelerate the delivery of climate action on the ground;

• Advancing the decentralization of the GCF, through the establishment of regional presence across the Fund’s five regions, bringing the GCF closer to countries and communities it serves.

Together, these measures signal a decisive shift toward a more agile, responsive, and country-driven Green Climate Fund.

Why 2026 matters

The year ahead is critical for the future of the GCF. Building on the reforms initiated in 2025, the Board will be called upon to bring several transformative processes to fruition.

In 2026, the GCF is expected to:

• Conclude decisions on the operationalization of regional offices, ensuring that regional presence becomes fully functional and impactful;

• Initiate the formulation of the GCF’s next strategic programming cycle (2027–2029), which will define the Fund’s investment priorities in a rapidly evolving climate and development landscape;

• Launch the technical work toward the Fund’s next replenishment (GCF-3), laying the groundwork for an ambitious pledging conference in 2027 that matches the scale and urgency of global climate needs.

With a portfolio exceeding USD 19 billion in approved financing, supporting over 300 projects in more than 130 countries, and leveraging significantly greater total investment, the GCF remains the world’s largest multilateral climate fund. The leadership continuity provided by this re-election comes at a moment when clarity of vision and trust are essential.

AAI at 10: leadership grounded in service

For AAI, Ambassador Nafo’s re-election is both an honor and a responsibility. As the Initiative marks 10 years of existence, this renewed trust affirms the values that have guided AAI since its inception: partnership, credibility, and results-driven leadership in service of the most climate-vulnerable.

From AAI’s perspective, this renewed mandate is not about tenure, but about living up to expectations, supporting the GCF in delivering faster, fairer, and more impactful climate finance, particularly for Africa and other vulnerable regions.

As AAI enters its second decade, we reaffirm our full support for Ambassador Nafo in this role and our continued commitment to working with partners across regions to ensure that climate ambition translates into action on the ground.

At a time marked by global uncertainty, but also by shared resolve displayed in this time of Lent and Ramadan around the world, AAI welcomes this renewed trust with humility, gratitude, and a steadfast commitment to serve.