AFRICA – Global leaders have rallied support and finance for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) to tackle climate change in Africa.
Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program is an Africa-owned and Africa-led initiative developed by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in close collaboration with the African Union.
The leaders attended the Africa Adaptation Leaders’ Event, convened by African Union Chair President Macky Sall of Senegal, Global Center on Adaptation CEO Patrick Verkooijen and African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina.
The event took place at the global climate summit (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. It underscored the critical need for climate adaptation in Africa and responded to the call for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) capitalization.
James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom announced that the UK will provide US$227.73 million (£200 million) to the African Development Bank’s Climate Action Window.
This is in addition to the US$22.77 million (£20 million) announced at COP26 in Glasgow to the AAAP Upstream Financing Facility.
Cleverly noted: “Climate change is having a devastating impact on countries in Sub-Saharan Africa facing drought and extreme weather patterns, which have historically received a tiny proportion of climate finance.
“This new mechanism […] will see vital funds delivered to those most affected by the impacts of climate change, much more quickly.”
Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands followed through on the commitment made at the Africa Adaptation Summit held at the Global Center on Adaptation in September to confirm that the Netherlands will contribute US$109.92 million (EUR110 million) to the AAAP.
Out of that, US$9.99 million (€10 million) will go to the Upstream Financing Facility hosted by GCA and US$99.93 million (€100 million) for the Climate Action Window of the African Development Fund at the African Development Bank as part of the Netherlands’ commitment to dedicate half of its climate funding, fully grant-based, to climate adaptation, with a focus on Africa.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also echoed African leaders’ calls for countries to rapidly scale up finance for climate adaptation, stating: “The climate crisis is here and now. Years of progress are at risk.”
“The AAAP Upstream Financing Facility is the delivery mechanism of adaptation and will use millions to leverage the billions that are required for adaptation” he continued.
“On behalf of Norway, I am looking forward to continuing this partnership, investing in it, and supporting it with the Global Center on Adaptation.”
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized the need to accelerate adaptation in Africa, stating: “It is paramount to support Africa’s adaptation because Africa will not reach its tremendous potential without it.
“AAAP complements the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust, which helps countries address external shocks such as climate change and ensure sustainable growth that can give Africa a chance to leapfrog outdated development models.”
AAAP serves as the implementation of the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) to mobilize US$25 billion to implement, scale and accelerate climate adaptation across Africa.
Since 2021, AAAP has mainstreamed climate adaptation in over US$3.5 billion of investments in 19 countries.
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