Adaptation is a priority for Africa requiring technical and financial support to accelerate its effectiveness. The continent faces disproportionate burdens and risks arising from climate change, as extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns cause detrimental impacts on agriculture, food and water security, education, energy, infrastructure, peace and security, public health, and overall socioeconomic development.
Loss and damage caused by the climate crisis threatens the continent’s economic growth. By 2050, Africa’s adaptation cost is projected to increase yet climate adaptation is slowing, and there is a growing adaptation finance gap. Additionally, a key barrier is the limited technical capacity to develop projects that can effectively enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change.
Recognizing these challenges, the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) under the Adaptation Special Program, works with technical experts/scientists, negotiators and, policymakers to ensure that adaptation measures reflect the unique needs of Africa at the global, regional, national and local levels.
Initiatives and Achievements
- Global Climate Negotiations: AGNES actively participates in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations, ensuring Africa’s perspectives on adaptation are represented.
- Capacity Building and Knowledge Development: AGNES has produced knowledge products including policy briefs, information notes and blogs to enhance understanding on emerging issues on adaptation
- Support Negotiators and Scientists: AGNES organizes preparatory meetings for negotiators and African scientists before international negotiations and scoping meetings under the UNFCCC and IPCC respectively
- Enhance policy processes at the regional and national level: AGNES collaborates with policy makers and key stakeholders to align adaptation strategies with national priorities and development plans. This creates an enabling environment for scalable and sustainable adaptation initiatives.
This approach not only strengthens Africa’s adaptation efforts but also increases access to finance, to ensure that the continent’s unique challenges are met with innovative and evidence-based solutions.