ClimDev : PACJA Commits to Continued Collaboration with the Troika

The year 2010 will be remembered as a significant benchmark for Africa as the continent made strides toward a unified commitment to tackling climate change. The establishment of the Climate Change and Development – Africa (ClimDev-Africa) initiative by the African Union, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) demonstrates a strong continental dedication to finding solutions from within.

The second phase of the programme, launched in 2023, seeks to build on the momentum of the first phase and shape the strategic direction to deliver a greater impact through more effective governance, enhanced resource mobilisation, and stronger alignment with Africa’s climate priorities.

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) represents civil society organisations across Africa, advocating for the community’s voices in the pursuit of climate justice. PACJA has been working closely with the troika to promote advocacy for climate action and climate justice both in Africa and beyond.  Together, both organisations collaborated in the organisation of regional and global events such as CoPs, CCDA, ARFSD and many others.

From July 30 to August 1, four organisations, namely the African Union, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and PACJA, convened in Nairobi, Kenya, in the ClimDev-Africa Programme Planning Workshop, which aims to address several pressing needs in the transition to Phase II. The workshop provided a platform for a comprehensive review of Phase I implementation, drawing on the recently completed impact assessment to identify successes and challenges.

 Delivering a message on behalf of  Dr Mithika Mwenda, the PACJA’s Executive Director,  Mr. Charles Mwangi, the Programme and Research at PACJA, recognised the role played by ClimDev I and affirmed the immense potential of AUC, UNECA, AfDB and PACJA in driving change for the benefit of Africa.

“We have achieved a great deal in the last couple of years in shaping our African Narrative on climate change discourse and influencing Africa’s position in various processes”, said Charles Mwangi.

The ClimDev – I impact evaluation report indicates that the program made significant progress toward achieving its target results, as stated in the evaluation. This assessment measured the effectiveness of the CDA Phase 1 implementation based on its three core result areas.

Charles Mwangi reminded that despite the positive achievements during the first phase, there is still a long way to go in the climate action agenda. He commended the positive achievement through Climate Change and Development, hosted every year, as it has created safe spaces for Africa to dialogue and curate transformative ideas needed in the shift to a new paradigm. “We must nurture this relationship and partner with many others in our region, leveraging our comparative strengths and driven unity of purpose”, stressed Mwangi.

The Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) was officially launched in 2010 in Addis Ababa Programme at a ceremony held on the sidelines of the Seventh African Development Forum.

The planning workshop is expected to develop concrete strategies for resource mobilisation, acknowledging that Phase II’s ambitious $191 million funding target requires innovative approaches to donor engagement and partnership building.

It will enhance collaboration among the three implementing institutions and regional partners. By promoting better synergy between the AUC, ECA, and AfDB operations, the workshop aims to boost program delivery and effectiveness. The results will directly inform preparations for ACS-II and Africa’s involvement in COP30, ensuring that ClimDev-Africa plays a significant role in these high-level processes.