ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – November 6, 2025.
As the world prepares for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has announced a suite of innovative financial instruments aimed at helping African countries scale climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Eight of the ten countries most affected by climate change are in Africa, yet the continent receives less than 3% of global climate finance. With droughts, cyclones, and floods threatening food systems and livelihoods, the AfDB says the coming decade must be one of climate action, resilience, and inclusive growth.
“These initiatives not only respond to climate change, they empower communities to take control of their future,” said Anthony Nyong, Director of the Climate Change and Green Growth Department at AfDB. “Adaptation funding must reach the vulnerable communities that need it most.”
Pioneering Instruments for Climate Action
The Bank has developed multiple mechanisms to support national climate commitments, including:
Climate Investment Funds (CIF): Established in 2008 with a budget of $12.5 billion, the CIF has supported 47 investment plans and over $1 billion in AfDB projects, mobilizing an additional $2.42 billion in co-financing for clean energy, sustainable forestry, and climate resilience. Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA): Provides catalytic blended finance for renewable energy and efficiency projects. One notable example is Zambia’s 32 MW Ilute Solar Project, backed by $8 million from SEFA, which will power over 30,000 homes through the Southern African Power Pool. Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF): Since 2014, this multi-donor trust fund has financed 33 projects worth $40.6 million, helping communities in Djibouti and across the Horn of Africa adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices and improve food security. African Circular Economy Fund (ACEF): Established in 2022, ACEF promotes waste reduction and sustainable manufacturing. In Rwanda, startups like Incuti Foods—supported by the Fund—are turning post-harvest waste into value-added chili products sold across Kigali’s food scene. Climate Action Window (CAW): Launched in 2022 under the African Development Fund, this concessional finance window has $429 million under management, targeting $4 billion by 2025. It has already supported projects in Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Madagascar, expected to cut 720,000 tonnes of CO₂ and create 180,000 jobs.
Africa’s Priorities for COP30
COP30, taking place November 10–21, 2025, will mark ten years since the Paris Agreement. The AfDB says Africa’s key goals are:
Accelerating the energy transition with green baseload and renewables; Ensuring a just transition for climate-vulnerable nations; Mobilizing large-scale finance for adaptation and resilience.
The Bank’s instruments—ranging from the Adaptation Benefit Mechanism (ABM) and Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) to the Desert to Power Initiative and Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA)—demonstrate a holistic approach to sustainable development.
“The Climate Action Window is more than a financing mechanism; it is a lifeline for communities facing the harsh realities of climate change every day,” Nyong added.
