The 5th Africa Regional Conference on Loss and Damage on the way

Reflecting On Outcomes and Impacts of the Previous Forums

For the last four years, the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), through CISSONECC, its Malawi National Designated Platform, and partners, has been convening the Africa Regional Forum on Loss and Damage in Lilongwe, Malawi.

This year, African civil society and its partners will gather in Lilongwe, Malawi, from March 25^th  to 27^th  for the 5th Africa Regional Forum on Climate Change. This event represents more than just a gathering; it demonstrates Africa’s increasing voice, resilience, and leadership in shaping the global climate justice agenda.

Since its inception, the Africa Regional Forum on Loss and Damage has evolved from a space of awareness-building into a strategic platform for influence, coordination and action.

The previous fora were marked by a shared urgency to articulate Africa’s lived realities of climate-induced loss and damage, ranging from extreme weather events and slow-onset adverse impacts to irreversible cultural and ecological losses.

 The annual forum has evolved into a hub for aligning African policy, strengthening technical capacity, and amplifying frontline voices within global processes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations.

As Lilongwe is ready to host the fifth Forum on Loss and Damage, the latter comes at a critical historic juncture. This follows the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 and related operationalisation discussions at COP28 in Dubai, COP29 in Baku, and COP30 in Belém. In these COPs discussions,  attention was shifted from recognition to implementation. However much these discussions were, for Africa and African stakeholders, this awaited transition raises pressing questions on whether the fund will be accessible, equitable and responsive to the needs of the most affected and vulnerable communities. Interrogation emphasised whether the fund will address both economic and non-economic losses and whether the operationalisation of the L&D fund will be shaped by the voices of those most affected.

Leveraging African efforts to amplify voices on Loss and Damage

As the 5th African Regional Forum on Loss and Damage approaches, reflections on the previous four forums highlight the establishment of a strong, unified African narrative on loss and damage as one of the most significant achievements.

CISONECC, PACJA, and their partners have been instrumental in connecting grassroots realities with high-level policy processes. Previous forums have consistently highlighted the perspectives of African communities, including farmers facing crop failures, fishers dealing with declining fish stocks, coastal populations affected by rising sea levels, and indigenous groups witnessing the erosion of their cultural heritage. These discussions ensure that their experiences inform advocacy and negotiation strategies.

As far as partnership building is concerned, the forum brought together civil society, policymakers, researchers and development partners promoting collaboration across all sectors and borders. These networks have strengthened Africa’s negotiating power and contributed to more coherent and impactful engagement on Loss and damage at the global level.

The journey is continuous; however, challenges remain. Though there is a progressive global recognition, the scale of financing loss and damage remains grossly inadequate. The clarion call was made at the closure  of  the 4^th  forum  by which participants called for  Accelerating Access to Climate Finance for Locally Led Loss & Damage and Adaptation. Bureaucratic barriers risk excluding those most in need, while data gaps and limited institutional capacity continue to hinder effective response, as highlighted by Dr  James Murombedzi the Pan-Africanist and Senior Climate Policy expert at the 4^th conference on L&D. He stressed that “In order to make decisions, any government needs data, which at the moment is a challenge, especially when it relates to weather information. The policies we develop will reflect significant investment in weather observation systems.”​

Held under the theme “Advancing Sustainable, Equitable and Just Financing and Technical Support for Loss and Damage in Africa,” the 5^th  conference on loss and damage is an opportunity to deepen the discourse on locally led solutions and a moment to emphasise that Africa is not only a continent of vulnerability but also of innovation and resilience. From community-based adaptation practices to indigenous knowledge systems, there is a wealth of experience that can inform global approaches to loss and damage. Hence, Sustainable, Equitable and Just Financing and Technical Support for Loss and Damage in Africa is not a wish but a responsibility.

The journey of the African Regional Forum on Loss and Damage reflects a broader trend across the African continent regarding climate discourse, moving from marginalisation to meaningful influence. The 5th Lilongwe Forum on Loss and Damage is not just another conference; it serves as a reaffirmation of commitment, a consolidation of progress, and a catalyst for collaborative efforts to benefit the continent.