Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB), used a side event at the Second Africa Climate Summit to showcase the tangible impact of its portfolio, emphasizing successful strategies for building climate resilience across the continent.

With $40.64 million invested across 33 projects, the Fund highlighted proven results in policy, gender inclusion, and community-led enterprise.

Prof. Anthony Nyong, the AfDB’s Director of Climate Change and Green Growth, called for a significant increase in donor backing. “Over eleven years, ACCF has reinforced community-led resilience and mobilized climate finance across Africa,” he stated, stressing that greater support is crucial to meet the continent’s escalating climate-related financial needs.

Policy Gains and Local Innovation

The event, moderated by ACCF Coordinator Rita Effah, featured project leaders sharing concrete achievements. Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director of the African Technology Policy Studies Network, detailed major policy advances, including the training of 72 climate champions across 12 countries and the launch of Africa’s first online NDC Implementation Index.

The discussion underscored the necessity of localized, inclusive solutions:

• Youth Enterprise: In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Deborah Nzarubara, known as the “mother of bees,” transformed her passion into a resilience-building enterprise, now coordinating 23 cooperatives and 1,200 members utilizing connected hives.
• Gender and Disability: Faith Gikunda of ICCASA-CEMIRIDE advocated for vulnerable groups, stating: “Women with disabilities are survivors, solution-holders, and builders of resilient communities,” urging for disability inclusion in all climate programmes.
• Rural Resilience: Farm Africa’s $1 million project in Ethiopia is already benefiting 37,000 people, predominantly women and youth, with Program Director Tom Cadogan noting that “gender equality is a prerequisite to climate resilience.”

Sustained Donor Commitment

Canada reaffirmed its critical partnership, with Ms. Claude Landry, Head of Global Affairs Canada’s Pan-African and Regional Development Program, emphasizing the need for inclusive finance: “Climate change affects people differently, and effective responses must reflect this.”

Following the panel, Ms. Effah reinforced the Fund’s commitment to transparency by leading an ACCF Clinic, which provided stakeholders with direct guidance on accessing funding and replicating successful climate adaptation models.