WATCH ON-DEMAND: What African Partners can Expect from COP31

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Our What African Partners Can Expect from COP31 webinar, hosted by the Green Economy Hub at Vuka Group, brought together leading voices from climate policy, urban development, adaptation finance and the COP31 Climate High-Level Champions Office to explore how Africa can position itself ahead of COP31 and ultimately COP32 in Ethiopia.

The discussion moved beyond negotiations and focused on implementation, financing and tangible delivery. Speakers explored how African countries, cities, financial institutions and local communities can use the COP process to mobilise investment, strengthen resilience and accelerate climate action on the ground. A central theme throughout the dialogue was that Africa should not arrive at COP as a passive recipient of finance, but as an active architect of solutions, bringing bankable projects, innovative financing approaches and practical implementation pathways to the global climate agenda. You can now watch the full conversation on demand below.

Executive Summary

The webinar explored how African stakeholders can maximise the opportunities presented by COP31 while laying the foundation for a successful COP32 on African soil. Speakers highlighted that while climate finance remains critical, the focus must increasingly shift towards implementation, project preparation and delivery. Across urban resilience, adaptation, infrastructure and youth entrepreneurship, experts emphasised the need to convert Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) into investment-ready pipelines that can attract both public and private capital. The discussion also reinforced that Africa must strengthen domestic financing mechanisms, promote innovative financial solutions and build stronger partnerships between governments, financial institutions, cities and communities. Ultimately, the success of future COPs will be measured not by commitments announced, but by projects delivered and resilience built on the ground.

“Africa should not come to COP holding an empty bowl. We must come with innovative solutions and bankable opportunities.”
– Chris Mensah

MODERATOR:

• Reitumetse Molotsoane, Africa Director, Climate Champions Team

SPEAKERS:

• Dr Robert Sangori, Deputy Director for Urban Governance, Management & Resilience / BCRUP Coordinator, State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Republic of Kenya
• Oumar Sylla, Director, Regional Office for Africa , UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)
• Edith Adera, Lead Coordinator Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) and Regional Principal Officer, African Development Bank Group
• Chris Mensah, Special Advisor to the COP31 Climate High-Level Champions

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• COP Success Must Be Measured by Delivery – The value of COP31 and COP32 will not be determined by announcements alone. Progress must be measured through implemented projects, resilient communities and climate investments that achieve tangible development outcomes.
• Africa Needs Investment-Ready Climate Pipelines – Countries must convert adaptation plans, climate strategies and NDC commitments into bankable projects capable of attracting public and private capital. Project preparation remains one of the biggest barriers to scaling climate investment.
• Cities Are at the Centre of the Climate Challenge – Africa’s rapidly growing cities face increasing vulnerability to floods, droughts, heat stress and informality. Urban resilience, housing, infrastructure and waste management must become central pillars of the climate agenda.
• Domestic Finance and Financial Innovation Matter – While developed countries must honour their climate finance commitments, African institutions also need to mobilise domestic capital through innovative financing models, blended finance structures and stronger engagement with the banking sector.
• Youth and Adaptation Are Key to Africa’s Future – Young innovators across Africa are already developing climate solutions, but many remain trapped in the “valley of death” between innovation and scale. Access to finance, markets and supportive ecosystems will be essential for turning adaptation into investable opportunity.