AAI

About - AAI

African Heads of State launched the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) to ensure the Continent urgently adapts to the adverse effects of climate change in the immediate, short, medium and longer terms. The AAI launch event took place in Paris during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP) in December 2015.

In the last decade, African economies have been growing at a rate of 4.7%, but the challenge of climate change threatens further economic growth and impedes progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The devastating effects of climate change, which include severe droughts, floods, reduced agricultural yields, sea level rise and other climate related disasters are on the rise. By 2050, based on the current trends in global emissions, Africa’s adaptation costs could reach USD 100 billion annually (UNEP, 2014).

In launching the AAI, African Heads of State have initiated high-level pan-African and regional dialogues, adaptation action on the ground, and cross-sector processes to strengthen collaboration on adaptation across Africa. The AAI will: (i) Raise awareness of climate adaptation; (ii) Facilitate knowledge management, capacity building and capacity strengthening; (iii) Support and facilitate resource mobilization for implementation; (iv) Promote co-operation and partnerships (at sub-regional and regional levels) for synergy, scale and maximize shared benefits; (v) Track progress through monitoring and evaluation of action.

The AAI represents a bold and innovative step by Africa to galvanize the support needed to significantly scale up adaptation on the continent. The AAI is an initiative for Africa, and it is driven and coordinated by Africa. It is rooted in a mandate provided to the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) by the 25th African Union Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2015. At the 2015 AU Summit, AMCEN was directed to develop, with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), a proposal for enhanced support to Africa on adaptation. The AAI was developed and launched later that year, in December 2015. Initially focussed on enhancing action in the pre-2020 period, the work plan is now focussed on achieving results for adaptation in Africa post-2020.

AIMS

The AAI aims to enhance action on adaptation, with the aim of addressing the adaptation financing gap, and implementing measures to address disaster risk reduction and resilience needs in Africa.

The AAI takes a strategic view of adaptation across Africa – identifying the gaps and connecting regional partners to find solutions.

Through partnerships with institutions undertaking relevant work on the continent, the AAI is scaling-up and replicating successful ongoing initiatives and developing proposals for new initiatives. This begins by coordinating with partners to support four AAI Flagship Programmes: 1) Climate Information Services; 2) Advancing Risk Transfer in Africa; 3) Lake Chad River Basin Early Warning System and; 4) Knowledge Management Programme for Adaptation Planning in Africa. Two additional Flagship initiatives are in the pipeline.

AAI carries out this unified approach to adaptation in Africa by coordinating action across four areas of focus, known as AAI’s ‘Pillars’

Outcomes

After successfully delivering results as intended under Phase 1 (2015-2016) and Phase 2 (2017-19), the AAI is now resourcing and implementing post-2020 activities under Phase 3 (2020-2030).

Phase 3 begins with achieving transformative results for adaptation in Africa through a 2020-2025 Roadmap. In delivering the AAI 2020-2025 Roadmap, the AAI seeks to contribute results across four high-level outcome areas:

USD 1 Billion is invested in African countries by 2025 to ensure adequate climate information services (including early-warning systems and observational infrastructure) to support robust policy and decision-making on adaptation;
All African countries have translated their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and their NDC Adaptation into investment plans, and fundable pipeline of projects by 2025;
Doubling of adaptation finance accessed and mobilized by African countries by 2025 for their urgent priorities;
Implementation of at least one regional flagship programme in each of the 5 regions in Africa, addressing the critical sectors (and drivers) of the African economy: agriculture, water, disaster reduction, cities and local communities, coastal protection, health and biodiversity and ecosystems.

Launching AAI Phase 3 (2020-2030) with the 2020-2025 Roadmap for the Africa Adaptation Initiative

AAI launches the initiative’s Phase 3 (2020-2030) at the UNSG Climate Summit on September 23rd, 2019. Announcing the 2020-2025 Roadmap for AAI will include discussion on how AAI will contribute to:

Scaling-up the initial 4 AAI Flagships (launched UNGA 2018) with 4 partners (AfDB, ARC, Lake Chad Commission, UNDP-SEI); and launching two new collaborations (Adaptation of African Agriculture, LIFE-AR, Global Commission on Adaptation, and GCF);
Commissioning the Africa State of Adaptation Report (SoAR) at the 2020 AU Climate Summit & GCA Climate Adaptation Action Summit;
Hosting an Africa Climate Finance Network & Forum Secretariat and supporting implementation of its initial 4-year workplan;
Launching, at COP 26 Africa, the first continental and thematic climate bond.

AAI’s Phased Approach

AAI is implemented through a phased approach to achieve transformative adaptation results for Africa in sync with global processes.Read about past, present and planned activities under each Phase here.

PHASE 1
(2015 — 2016)

AAI receives high-level political backing and is launched at COP 21 in Paris

PHASE 2
(2017 — 2019)

AAI establishes its visibility and reputation as a responsive adaptation initiative for Africa

PHASE 3
(2020 — 2030)

AAI achieves transformative adaptation results for African countries throughout the Decade of Climate Action

Areas Of Focus

AAI delivers activities in collaboration with a wide network of partners, including from the private and public sectors.

AAI works with partners to identify, refine and prioritise activities based on how they align with one or more of the AAI agreed focus areas, known as ‘Pillars’. Pillars 1-4 are explained below.

Pillar 1: Enhancing climate information services

Goal: All African countries have climate information services adequate in quantity and quality to support decision making.

Pillar 2: Strengthening policies and institutions

Goal: Stronger continental, regional, and national institutional and policy frameworks to support decision making on adaptation and loss and damage in Africa.

Pillar 3: Enhancing on the ground action

Goal: Significantly increase the number of projects and programs being implemented to enhance adaptation and address loss and damage in Africa.

Pillar 4: Climate finance and investments

Goal: Increase access to funding and mobilise additional support to enable the implementation of adaptation actions and approaches to address loss and damage.

DELIVERY MODEL

The AAI is an African-led initiative which is strongly rooted in existing African institutions.

The delivery model is described below:

Political guidance: Political leadership to guide AAI is provided by the Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN).

Steering Committee: AAI’s steering committee comprises the AMCEN Bureau and Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).

Technical Support Unit: The day-to-day operations of the AAI is coordinated by the AAI’s Technical Support Unit (TSU).

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Tweets by AfricaAAI

Publications

Integrated Responses to Building Climate and Pandemic Resilience

AAI - Brochure

AAI - Framework Document

AAI - Key Information

Workshop On Enhancing Climate Information Services

Newsletter - Roundtable Special Edition

Flagship Programmes

Discussion Paper

Enhancing Action on Adaptation in Africa - Key Messages

Report of the High-Level Partners Roundtable

COP 24 Newsletter

Newsroom

Dec 16, 2021

3 Takeaways from the Glasgow Climate Conference for Adaptation in Africa

The outcomes of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow have seen mixed reactions. Kulthoum Omari Motsumi, Special Advisor to the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) reflects on the most relevant outcomes for adaptation in Africa in this blog.

Apr 6, 2021

Leaders’ Dialogue on Africa COVID-Climate Emergency

The Leaders’ Dialogue on the Africa Covid-Climate Emergency is being convened on 6 April 2021 by the African Development Bank and GCA, in close collaboration with the United Nations and Africa Adaptation Initiative. It brings together African Heads of States and Governments, bilateral partners, heads of international organizations and development agencies. The Dialogue serves as a platform to present Africa’s needs to the global community to scale up and speed up actions, financing and partnership.

Livestreaming – Click here

Mar 19, 2021

GCA signs Memorandum of Understanding with African Adaptation Initiative

The African Adaptation Initiative and GCA consolidated their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to support African leadership to accelerate climate change adaptation across the continent.

Dec 16, 2020

Climate Ambition Summit 2020 – President Ali Bongo Ondimba

On the occasion of Climate Ambition Summit 2020, President Ali Bongo Ondimba delivered his remarks emphasizing the importance of increased climate ambition and AAI’s strategic role in accelerating ambition and action in Africa. He also announced the largest readiness programme endorsed by the GCF under the auspices of AAI.

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Upcoming Events

To be announced

Past
Events

High-Level Event:

Santiago Climate Change Conference
Date: 02-13 December 2019
Location: Santiago de Chile, Chile

High-Level Event:

UNSG Climate Summit 2019
Date: 23 September, 2019
Location: UNHQ, New York

High-Level Event:

Green Climate Fund Global Programming Conference
Date: 19-23 August, 2019
Location: Songdo, Republic of Korea

Africa Dialogue:

First Dialogue on Resource Mobilisation to Support the Adaptation and Resilience of Agriculture in Africa
Date: 22-23 July, 2019
Location: Skhirat, Rabat, Morocco

Meeting:

Africa Adaptation Initiative High-Level Round Table
Date: 24 September, 2018
Location: New York City, USA

Meeting:

Africa Adaptation Initiative Partners Strategic Meeting
Date: March 27-28, 2018
Location: Libreville, Gabon

Workshop:

Enhancing climate information services in Africa
Date: 22-23 June 2017
Location: Maun, Botswana

High-Level Event:

The Africa Adaptation Initiative: Working Together to Deliver on Climate Action
Date: Tuesday, 15 November, 2016
Location: Marrakesh, Morocco

Contact

Currently, the Africa Adaptation Initiative is seeking funding from African and international resource providers in the public and private sectors. This is to enable AAI to deliver its 2020-2025 strategy, to support African countries to achieve their adaptation and resilience objectives.

Would you like to learn more about how countries can access support from the Africa Adaptation Initiative?

Do you need information on how to support AAI to achieve results for adaptation and resilience in Africa?

Please contact:
Ambassador Seyni Nafo
AAI Coordinator
mimikaseyni@gmail.com