The African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) has continued to be a center of excellence in its Climate Governance, Diplomacy, and Negotiations Leadership Program. Since 2020, AGNES has continued to build the capacity of highly competent negotiators and practitioners in the international climate change policy discourse with the goal of decisively effecting climate actions at regional and national levels. Currently, AGNES has completed the training of its twelfth cohort, which has resulted in a total of 64 participants successfully going through the course, thus adding to its already existing network of more than 650 participants across 52 countries in Africa, who have been part of the program.
Below are sample testimonials from the just concluded cohort:
James Kofi Ababio Danquah, Ghana West Africa
“Through the AGNES Climate Leadership Programme, I gained a profound understanding of the intricate balance between environmental stewardship and international cooperation. Learning how to navigate diplomatic landscapes to drive impactful climate policies was the program’s invaluable highlight for me.”
Rodgers Rogito, Kenya East Africa
“Through the AGNES program I gained knowledge about international and regional climate change governance and advocacy, and article 6 of the Paris Agreement…Overall, I am confident that my participation in the program equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage with global climate processes, including processes with COPs, NDCs, and NAPs to countries, as well as GCF proposals…”
Gome Ng’ona, Zambia Southern Africa
“This course was excellent, huh? Where have you been all my life regarding climate change advocacy and leadership? The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and articulate issues well in layman’s language…”
With preparations geared towards the Africa Climate Week in Nairobi Kenya, the AGNES Capacity Development Center, in collaboration with the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) aims to provide training specifically tailored for the youth in negotiations. Additionally, AGNES in collaboration with Regional Centre for Collaboration (RCC) Kampala, has secured a side event, “Climate Governance: Empowering Climate Leaders for Collective Impact,” during Africa Climate Week. The side event aims at raising awareness on capacity building approaches, and the role every stakeholder (governments, private sector, youth, and academia, among others) as climate leaders may play towards ensuring the implementation of climate action.