Towards advancing Climate Accountability: A new NDC index tool launched

The new tool, the NDC Implementation Index, was launched to enhance transparency and accountability. This tool was introduced during a two-day high-level Regional Policy Dialogue and Dissemination Workshop held in Addis Ababa on July 8-9, 2025. The Index is designed to assess and track the progress of African countries in implementing their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, while also aligning their climate action strategies with national development priorities and global obligations.

The index tool developed through a collaborative effort by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), and the West African Green Economy Development Institute (WAGEDI), is in line with the project entitled “Building the Capacity of Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries to Effectively Measure Progress in their Nationally Determined Contributions’ (NDCs) Implementation Using Tracking Tools and Indexes”.   The project is implemented in 12 countries, namely Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the African Climate Change Fund (ACCF), the project seeks to ensure that African countries effectively track their climate commitments and align them with the Paris Agreement.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Seyoum Mekonen, Minister of Planning and Development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, highlighted Africa’s leadership potential in advancing global climate solutions. “Africa must rise as a key driver and determinant of equity and transformative solutions that deliver continental and global impact. The NDC Index is a timely tool that will support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen data systems, and foster mutual accountability while celebrating our progress,” Dr Seyoum emphasised.

Dr Mithika, Executive Director of PACJA, reminded that the Paris Agreement was a turning point in global climate action, but commitments alone are not enough. “Without transparent, consistent tracking frameworks, we risk losing our way, said Dr Mithika before adding, “The NDC Index offers a critical platform to strengthen monitoring efforts, identify implementation gaps, and scale innovative solutions toward a resilient and sustainable Africa.”

Prof. Chidi Magnus of WAGEDI reflected on the broader utility of the NDC Index as a policy and planning tool. He said that the index reflects not just rankings, but the coherence and accessibility of NDC implementation data.  He said that “it is instrumental in identifying gaps and supporting the design of innovative, evidence-based solutions for Africa.”

The Regional Dialogue marked a significant milestone in Africa’s climate governance landscape. By institutionalising a robust, inclusive, and transparent NDC tracking framework, the workshop set the foundation for coordinated implementation and accountability in pursuit of the continent’s climate goals. The outputs from the workshop were expected to inform national and regional policy frameworks and support an Africa-wide NDC Index as a one-stop reference for climate accountability.

This workshop aimed to foster collaboration and drive actionable commitments toward climate action at both national and regional levels. The expected outcomes from this workshop were, namely, (a) Improved implementation and monitoring of NDC implementation at the national level. b) Enhanced policy formulation and decision-making based on accurate and timely data. c) Increased stakeholder engagement and ownership of NDC implementation processes. d) Strengthened institutional frameworks for climate action across the participating countries. e) Opportunity to work with more countries and develop an Africa-wide NDC Index that can serve as a one-stop shop for monitoring countries’ progress in the implementation of NDCs in Africa.