CLIMATE JUSTICE FOR AFRICA: AAI CALLS FOR A STRUCTURAL OVERHAUL OF GLOBAL CLIMATE FINANCE

At the on-going International Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) has boldly called for a structural overhaul of the global climate finance architecture; shifting away from slow, fragmented, donor-driven projects towards country-led, programmatic approaches.

Speaking at a high-level session on ‘Financing Nature and Climate Action in Africa: Navigating Challenges and Unlocking Opportunities,’ AAI Coordinator Ambassador Seyni Nafo said it’s time to fix a broken climate finance system.

“Geopolitical turbulence, competing crises, shrinking aid, and global debt pressures are all affecting Africa’s access to climate and biodiversity finance in several ways,” he said. “For instance, global crises such as conflicts and pandemics are diverting donor focus and development finance away from climate and nature, while global debt pressures are crowding out climate action as high debt servicing reduces fiscal space for countries to co-finance or sustain adaptation and biodiversity projects. It’s time for a structural overhaul of the climate finance system by simplifying access, reducing duplication, and making finance more programmatic and country-driven, not project-by-project or donor-led. African negotiators must push for direct access and fast-track accreditation of African institutions to multilateral funds.”

This, according to Amb. Nafo, would empower African institutions to deliver impact faster and at scale.

In his submission, Amb. Nafo, who also serves as co-Chair of the GCF Board, additionally highlighted the importance of championing a long-overdue 50/50 balance between mitigation and adaptation finance, calling for a significant increase in grants over loans.

In a nutshell, his submissions focused on the need for predictable, long-term climate finance aligned with national priorities — and a fair global financial system that recognises Africa’s rights, needs, and potential.