Abuja, Nigeria: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has issued a clarion call for stronger donor support to scale up climate resilience efforts across the continent.
The bank made the call in a statement during a side event at the Second Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, where the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF) showcased its impact across the continent.
Prof. Anthony Nyong, the AfDB’s Director of Climate Change and Green Growth, said the Fund had invested $ 40.64 million in 33 projects over the past 11 years, reinforcing community-led resilience and mobilising climate finance.
He said that the success of the Fund emphasised the urgency for more substantial backing.
Over eleven years, ACCF has reinforced community-led resilience and mobilised climate finance across Africa. But much more is needed, and donor support is critical,” he said.
He said project leaders at the event presented results ranging from policy gains to grassroots solutions.
” The African Technology Policy Studies Network reported training 72 champions across 12 countries, publishing 12 policy briefs, and inaugurating Africa’s first online NDC Implementation Index,” he said.
The AfDB’s Director of Climate Change and Green Growth said gender inclusion was also emphasised at the meeting.
Nyong quoted Faith Gikunda of ICCASA-CEMIRIDE as emphasising the role of women with disabilities in building resilient communities, thus calling for disability inclusion across climate programmes.
He said:” Youth-led initiatives were showcased, including Deborah Nzarubara’s ‘mother of bees’ enterprise in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which coordinates 23 cooperatives and 1,200 members using connected hives.”
Tom Cadogan, Programme Director of Farm Africa in Ethiopia, stated that the farm’s one-million-dollar project had already reached 37,000 people, primarily women and young people.
Ms Claude Landry, Head of Global Affairs, Canada’s Pan-African Programme, reaffirmed the country’s partnership with the Fund and pledged continued support for inclusive climate finance.
The session concluded with an ACCF Clinic, led by Coordinator Ms Rita Effah, which guided stakeholders on accessing funding and replicating successful models.
