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Bridging the Adaptation Finance Gap Across Africa

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21 Nov, 2024

This post was originally published on Climate Links

Bridging the Adaptation Finance Gap Across Africa
jschoshinski
Thu, 11/21/2024 – 13:58

This blog is the first in a series highlighting USAID Climate Adaptation Support Activity (CASA) support for the African Adaptation Initiative (AAI). Launched by African heads of state at COP21, AAI is the African Union’s primary adaptation vehicle to bridge the climate finance gap. Stay tuned for the rest of the series, which will explore how CASA collaborates with partners to enhance climate resilience across sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the worst impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts, devastating floods, and rising temperatures, threaten food security, water availability, and overall socioeconomic development across the region. 

The continent has contributed less than four percent of the global accumulation of GHG, but we are suffering the most. On top of that, we have the least resources to respond. 

Souad Mourid, Head of Programs and Partnerships at AAI

As leaders gather in Azerbaijan for COP29, climate finance remains a priority conversation for governments, donors, and other stakeholders. Access to finance is a critical adaptation bottleneck across USAID partner countries in Africa. Limited capacity and resources to develop proposals coupled with complex proposal requirements and high competition for limited funds have resulted in only a fraction of the available funding reaching the region. 

UNEP found that developing countries’ climate adaptation finance needs are more than 50 percent higher than previously estimated. In sub-Saharan Africa, the annual adaptation finance needs were up to $96 billion in 2023. By 2030, the number is estimated to reach $579 billion. By 2035, it could reach $845 billion—the highest of any region globally. 

Without resources to build resilience, progress across the Sustainable Development Goals is faltering—we are seeing heightened food insecurity, water scarcity, migration, and even worse gender and education outcomes. With more frequent heat waves, some girls in Africa may stop going to school. It’s a complicated reality to face.

Souad Mourid, Head of Programs and Partnerships at AAI

As the world’s largest multilateral climate finance mobilizer, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has committed $61.5 billion in financing and co-financing for projects across more than 100 countries with the goal of achieving parity between adaptation and mitigation. A reported 36 percent of those funds have been allocated to African countries. 

AAI is African-led and strongly rooted in existing African institutions, including two of its implementing partners, Togo-based Sustainable Solutions for Africa (SSA) and Morocco-headquartered United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA)

In line with USAID’s commitment to the Principles for Locally Led Adaptation and its targets to direct 25 percent of its funding directly to local partners by 2025 and ensure half of USAID programming has local leadership by 2030, CASA is partnering with SSA and UCLGA to lead AAI’s climate finance innovation, online finance capacity building, and technical capacity to build successful proposals for GCF funding. 

“The GCF has limited funds, and huge competition exists for what they offer. One of the biggest barriers for African governments, banks, and local institutions is the capacity to build successful proposals,” explains Sandra Freitas, CEO and Founder of SSA. 

Through its partnerships with SSA and UCLGA, CASA is providing AAI the direct support needed to achieve its core goal of doubling the amount of adaptation finance accessed and mobilized by African countries. The tools and trainings developed by SSA will help eligible institutions gain accreditation and submit proposals for more than $100 million in adaptation finance by 2027. 

This work demonstrates how initial investment in the enabling environment and capacity strengthening of regional and national climate finance entities result in exponential gains in climate finance for the region long-term, ensuring more sustainable climate finance programming. 

Unlocking capital across the continent will build climate resiliency in geographies most vulnerable to climate impacts, contributing towards USAID’s goals for locally led adaptation and USAID’s Climate Strategy Intermediate Result 1.3 for more equitable access to climate finance. 

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As leaders gather in Azerbaijan for COP29, climate finance remains a priority conversation for governments, donors, and other stakeholders. Access to finance is a critical adaptation bottleneck across USAID partner countries in Africa.

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Thu, 11/21/2024 – 12:00

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Australasian Waste Recycling Expo debuts as ReGen at ICC

Australasian Waste Recycling Expo debuts as ReGen at ICC

Australia’s circular resource exhibitors, buyers and thought leaders are set to attend ReGen | Australia’s Circular Resource Expo, taking place on 23–24 July 2025 at ICC Sydney.

The two-day trade event, organised by Diversified Australia, marks the evolution of what was previously known as the Australasian Waste Recycling Expo, a longstanding brand dedicated to resource management and waste reduction for over 15 years.

The rebrand to ReGen reflects the expo’s expanded scope and emphasis on the circular economy, welcoming an array of innovative exhibitors, experts and emerging professionals committed to reducing waste, promoting resource efficiency and fostering sustainable markets.

“At Diversified Australia, we’re proud to produce events that drive positive industry change,” said Ali Lawes, event director for ReGen at Diversified.

“ReGen embodies our commitment to equip and empower industry leaders and practitioners in support of Australia’s ambitious 2035 targets for waste elimination, resource circulation, and pollution reduction.”

ReGen will showcase technical displays, offer vital industry insights and feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and networking opportunities.

The program aims to help attendees — from seasoned experts to newcomers — navigate their roles in creating a circular economy that keeps resources in use, minimises waste and regenerates natural systems.

As part of its evolution, ReGen will incorporate Circularity, Australia’s original circular economy conference, into its 2025 education program.

Since its launch in 2022, Circularity has served as a platform for industry practitioners to discuss Australia’s transition to a circular economy.

Now integrated into ReGen, Circularity will reach a broader audience, offering free sessions on topics such as circular product design and sustainable waste management — ensuring these critical insights remain accessible to all attendees.

For the last three years Circularity has been proudly presented by Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy Hub in partnership with Diversified Australia.

Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling said that integrating the country’s leading circular economy event into ReGen would offer even more impactful opportunities to drive Australia’s circular transition.

“The inclusion of Circularity into ReGen is a significant step forward in promoting circular economy principles on a national scale in collaboration with the waste and recycling industry,” Gilling said.

“At Planet Ark, we are thrilled to see Circularity evolve into a broader platform, ensuring critical conversations about sustainable resource management and circular product design reach more professionals and innovators than ever before. This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration in building a circular Australia.”

The expo’s name, ReGen, represents both the regenerative practices it champions and the generational transformation required to meet sustainability goals.

ReGen invites participants to “Rethink, Redesign, Repurpose, and Renew” as they contribute to a circular and sustainable future for Australia.

For more information and to register, visit regenexpo.com.au

Image credit: iStock.com/izusek

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