It is designed as the initiative for Africa driven by Africa. To address the increasing challenges of climate change, in 2015, the 25^th African Union Summit provided a mandate to the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) to develop a proposal for enhancing support to Africa on adaptation together with the African Group of Negotiators. As a result, in December 2015, African Heads of States launched the AAI at the COP21 in Paris.