Ahead of SB62 in June 2025, the AGNES in collaboration with Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT (ABC), ILRI, CARE AUDA-NEPAD, CGIAR , IOM-UN Migration and the Government of Kenya convened a PRE-SB62 strategy meeting from 25th to 28thFebruary 2025 to deliberate and prepare a common African position on Global Goal on Adaptation, Climate Finance, Gender, and Agriculture. Negotiators and experts from across Africa including UNFCCC RCCs, researchers, civil societies organizations and research organizations
First Segment of Pre-SB62: Global Goal on Adaptation
The PreSB62 strategy meeting presented an opportunity for technical experts and negotiators to discuss the roadmap of the GGA Framework. With the COP29 outcomes, key agenda items were identified with the intention to strengthen Africa’s position and enhance expert engagement in the indicator work.
The UAE-Belem Work Programme on Global Goal on Adaptation Indicators
The COP29 decision provided further guidance to the technical experts on refinement process of GGA indicators. It was therefore critical to capture Africa’s views and expectations on the indicator work including the role of technical experts, methods and approaches used to review and refine GGA indicators with the goal of presenting a manageable set of not more than 100 indicators. During discussions, technical experts shared their experience highlighting challenges such as lack of common approaches across the different themes.
Participants advocated for a ‘Bottom-up approach’ as a common methodology in the refinement process – with data availability, affordability in reporting as critical factors to consider. Further, Means of Implementation (MoI) is a priority for Africa with participants expressing the need to have indicators that track MoIs in the final set. Moving forward, there is a call to think beyond COP30, with a focus to streamlining data collection and reporting processes within countries to ensure effective operationalization of GGA.
Transformational Adaptation
Transformational Adaptation refers to significant changes in systems and practices to address the impacts of climate change. It contrasts with incremental adaptation, which involves small adjustments to existing practices. The discussions at the PreSB62 meeting highlighted Africa’s evolving understanding of transformational adaptation. There was a realization that while the concept holds potential benefits, its practical implementation has specific challenges including the disconnect between the political and technical realities at the point of implementation. Political decisions influence the implementation of adaptation strategies with many countries, particularly in Africa, face limitations in financial resources, technology, and capacity to implement transformational adaptation effectively.
A key outcome of the discussion was the realization of a significant research gap – a need for a comprehensive study to explore transformational adaptation practices in Africa. Such a study would capture case studies of successful/ failed transformational adaptation approaches. The findings will provide a clearer understanding of effective strategies on T.A. within Africa’s context.
Baku Adaptation Roadmap (BAR)
The BAR presents a significant milestone to drive progress on the GGA ensuring that adaptation remains at the centre of climate negotiations beyond COP30. It provides a structured framework for advancing the GGA and fostering implementation of adaptation measures. While the BAR establishes mechanisms for adaptation dialogues and implementation strategies, its long-term success will depend on clear implementation modalities to guide its operationalization, strong political, financial and technical support. The experts and negotiators deliberated on the potential modalities of the BAR to shape the submissions by the AGN and LDC groups on the BAR. This is to ensure that the submission captures Africa’s priorities.
Climate Finance Segment of Pre-SB62
Efficient mobilization and provision of the $300 billion to developing Countries: The “how” at pre-SB62
At Pre-SB62, climate finance negotiators and experts tackled the practicalities of operationalizing the $300 billion per year commitment, spotlighting innovative financing mechanisms and transparency. They stressed the urgency of securing firm pledges to unlock additional private sector funds, recognizing this as pivotal to scaling resources. To make this work, experts underscored the need to train government teams across various sectors to craft bankable project proposals that attract investment.
Alongside this, robust transparency tools—like the Enhanced Transparency Framework and a proposed database to track funders and recipients—were deemed essential to build trust and efficiency. A critical focus was improving access for frontline communities—through replicating small grant models, simplifying accreditation processes for funds like the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and lobbying for easier entry to global financing. This aims to channel resources efficiently to those most impacted by climate change.
Pre-SB62 Charting the Baku-Belem Roadmap to $1.3 Trillion
The Baku-Belem Roadmap, targeting $1.3 trillion was another key focus, with a firm call to revisit unresolved issues from the NCQG CMA 6 decision—namely defining climate finance, addressing loss and damage, ensuring additionality, and separating provision from mobilization targets. Discussions honed in on creating safeguards and clear fund allocations to prioritize contributions from developed to developing nations. Roundtable engagements with strategic partners, including multilateral development banks (MDBs), private sector players, donors, and institutions, were flagged as key to driving progress. Experts also advocated for gender-responsive, grant-based financing tailored to the unique needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Africa. These outcomes lay the groundwork for a bold financing agenda that bolsters adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage efforts, aiming for a resilient, equitable future.
Advancing Gender in climate action: Africa’s priorities on the next Gender Action Plan
The pre-SB62 gender Segment brought together a dedicated team of national gender and climate change focal points, negotiators, and experts to reflect on the implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) and chart a path forward ahead of SB62. The group reflected on the challenges and gaps in the previous GAP, explored key priorities for Africa in the next GAP, and preparation of submission of views on the format and scope of the in-session technical workshop at SB62.
One of the key takeaways from the session was the identification of significant challenges and gaps in the previous GAP. These included a highlight on inadequate support from the UNFCCC and other international sources, the underrepresentation of women in decision-making processes, limited participation in COPs and Subsidiary Bodies (SBs), and a lack of gender-responsive climate finance. These challenges underscored the need for a more robust and inclusive approach to gender integration in climate policies.
Addressing the Challenges in the GAP
To address these issues, the team proposed several key priorities and considerations for the next GAP. A major focus was on the integration of gender into the development, review, and implementation of critical climate policies and strategies, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Long-term Strategies (LTS). Additionally, the team emphasized the importance of enhancing the production, availability, and use of gender statistics and sex-disaggregated data across all sectors. This data is crucial for evidence-based decision-making in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of climate actions.
An important outcome of this session was the consensus to maintain the current GAP format, which includes clearly defined priority areas, activities, timelines, deliverables, outputs, and levels of implementation. The group affirms that this structure provides a solid foundation for tracking progress and ensuring accountability.
The discussions also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between national gender focal points and climate change negotiators, as well as increased advocacy for gender-responsive climate finance. By prioritizing capacity building and fostering partnerships, the next GAP can better support vulnerable groups and promote equitable access to climate technologies.
Agriculture and Food Security segment
In the agriculture and food security breakout session, participants engaged in an in-depth discussion on submissions for the SB62 workshop and suggestions for the 2025 forum on the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF). The session focused on identifying African priorities that would inform these submissions, emphasizing evidence-based information, case studies, and sub-themes reflecting the needs of Africa. The submissions followed a structured format highlighting case studies, best practices, and technical solutions supporting sustainable agricultural transformation.
The agriculture negotiators and experts agreed on the objectives of the workshop, coordination strategies, and reporting mechanisms for the workshop. The experts highlighted the critical role of agriculture in supporting food security and livelihoods. Additionally, they addressed the vulnerabilities of small-scale farmers, women, youth, and indigenous communities to climate change. Thus they encouraged national submissions that incorporate best practices, case studies, and regional perspectives, ensuring that financing mechanisms are tailored to diverse agricultural needs across Africa. Moreover, the negotiators proposed structuring the 2025 SCF forum around key sub-themes. The subthemes include increased access to climate finance, policy frameworks, gender-responsive financing, participatory action-research, and integration of science-based adaptation strategies into national policies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Pre-SB62 discussions provided a strategic platform for advancing Africa’s position on climate finance, gender, agriculture and food security, and global goal on adaptation. The emphasis was on data driven methodologies, inclusive policy frameworks, and targeted financing mechanisms. Thus, strengthening implementation strategies, securing financial commitments, and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships will be crucial in driving meaningful and lasting climate action for Africa.
