The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) has a mandate from the African Heads of State and Government, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) together with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to coordinate adaptation efforts needed across the continent.

The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) has a mandate from the African Heads of State and Government, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) together with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to coordinate adaptation efforts needed across the continent.


The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) has a mandate from the African Heads of State and Government, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) together with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to coordinate adaptation efforts needed across the continent.

The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) has a mandate from the African Heads of State and Government, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) together with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to coordinate adaptation efforts needed across the continent.


The Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI) has a mandate from the African Heads of State and Government, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) together with the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to coordinate adaptation efforts needed across the continent.

Our Vision

Our Vision

“To achieve enhanced adaptation on the Continent and a significant contribution to climate resilience in the context of implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the African Union’s (AU’s) 2063 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

“To achieve enhanced adaptation on the Continent and a significant contribution to climate resilience in the context of implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the African Union’s (AU’s) 2063 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Our Vision

“To achieve enhanced adaptation on the Continent and a significant contribution to climate resilience in the context of implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the African Union’s (AU’s) 2063 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

There are many current actions, practices and actors involved in implementing actions in line with this vision. However, critical gaps also remain in Africa’s adaptation landscape that are important to fill in order to bring adaptation to the needed level.

There are many current actions, practices and actors involved in implementing actions in line with this vision. However, critical gaps also remain in Africa’s adaptation landscape that are important to fill in order to bring adaptation to the needed level.

There are many current actions, practices and actors involved in implementing actions in line with this vision. However, critical gaps also remain in Africa’s adaptation landscape that are important to fill in order to bring adaptation to the needed level.

Our Niche

AAI’s niche is characterised by working on and connecting the different areas of capacity building, program implementation and advocacy; and by working on the basis of a clear mandate from African Heads of State and Government.

AAI’s niche is characterised by working on and connecting the different areas of capacity building, program implementation and advocacy; and by working on the basis of a clear mandate from African Heads of State and Government.

Our Mission Statement

Our Mission Statement

"We exist to strengthen collaboration on adaptation across the continent through high-level pan-African and regional dialogues, adaptation action on the ground, and addressing the adaptation financing gap. The Africa Adaptation Initiative is designed as the initiative for Africa driven by Africa."

"We exist to strengthen collaboration on adaptation across the continent through high-level pan-African and regional dialogues, adaptation action on the ground, and addressing the adaptation financing gap. The Africa Adaptation Initiative is designed as the initiative for Africa driven by Africa."

Our Niche

AAI’s niche is characterised by working on and connecting the different areas of capacity building, program implementation and advocacy; and by working on the basis of a clear mandate from African Heads of State and Government.

Our Mission Statement

"We exist to strengthen collaboration on adaptation across the continent through high-level pan-African and regional dialogues, adaptation action on the ground, and addressing the adaptation financing gap. The Africa Adaptation Initiative is designed as the initiative for Africa driven by Africa."

Governance

AAI is established and led by Africans and is strongly rooted in existing high-level African institutions.

At the 20th African Union Summit in June 2015, the African Union mandated AMCEN, together with the AGN to establish the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI).

At COP21 in Paris, AAI was launched by His Excellency the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and then Coordinator of Committee for African Heads of State and Government and Climate Change (CAHOSCC). AAI continues to be an AU initiative, receiving its mandate from AMCEN decisions and reporting to both AMCEN and CAHOSCC.

At the 20th African Union Summit in June 2015, the African Union mandated AMCEN, together with the AGN to establish the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI).

At COP21 in Paris, AAI was launched by His Excellency the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and then Coordinator of Committee for African Heads of State and Government and Climate Change (CAHOSCC). AAI continues to be an AU initiative, receiving its mandate from AMCEN decisions and reporting to both AMCEN and CAHOSCC.

At the 20th African Union Summit in June 2015, the African Union mandated AMCEN, together with the AGN to establish the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI).

At COP21 in Paris, AAI was launched by His Excellency the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and then Coordinator of Committee for African Heads of State and Government and Climate Change (CAHOSCC). AAI continues to be an AU initiative, receiving its mandate from AMCEN decisions and reporting to both AMCEN and CAHOSCC.

A Three-Tiered Governance System

AAI has been established to be a lean, flexible, agile, and responsive initiative that is able to efficiently and effectively respond to Africa’s adaptation needs. Moreover, AAI’s governance structure reflects its mandate and establishment process.

AAI has been established to be a lean, flexible, agile, and responsive initiative that is able to efficiently and effectively respond to Africa’s adaptation needs. Moreover, AAI’s governance structure reflects its mandate and establishment process.

The AAI Champion

The AAI Champion

An African Head of State appointed by the African Union to lead the Initiative.

An African Head of State appointed by the African Union to lead the Initiative.

The Steering Committee

The Steering Committee

Advises on AAI’s activities and serves the needs of the AAI Champion, AMCEN and the TSU. The Steering Committee meets at least twice a year to undertake political decisions to guide the operations of the TSU.

Advises on AAI’s activities and serves the needs of the AAI Champion, AMCEN and the TSU. The Steering Committee meets at least twice a year to undertake political decisions to guide the operations of the TSU.

The Technical Support Unit (TSU)

The Technical Support Unit (TSU)

Serves as the Secretariat to the Initiative and is responsible for the day-to-day operationalisation of AAI.

Serves as the Secretariat to the Initiative and is responsible for the day-to-day operationalisation of AAI.

A Three-Tiered Governance System

AAI has been established to be a lean, flexible, agile, and responsive initiative that is able to efficiently and effectively respond to Africa’s adaptation needs. Moreover, AAI’s governance structure reflects its mandate and establishment process.

The AAI Champion

An African Head of State appointed by the African Union to lead the Initiative.

The Steering Committee

Advises on AAI’s activities and serves the needs of the AAI Champion, AMCEN and the TSU. The Steering Committee meets at least twice a year to undertake political decisions to guide the operations of the TSU.

The Technical Support Unit (TSU)

Serves as the Secretariat to the Initiative and is responsible for the day-to-day operationalisation of AAI.

The AAI Steering Committee

The AAI Steering Committee includes representatives of leading African initiatives and bodies representing the African people, including the African Union Commission and the AMCEN Secretariat. Moreover, representatives from all African regions are included.


Besides that, AAI takes a uniquely inclusive approach through the intregration as also the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and United Cities & Local Governments Africa  (UCLGA). More information on these two crucial institutions is provided below.

The AAI Steering Committee

The AAI Steering Committee includes representatives of leading African initiatives and bodies representing the African people, including the African Union Commission and the AMCEN Secretariat. Moreover, representatives from all African regions are included.


Besides that, AAI takes a uniquely inclusive approach through the intregration as also the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and United Cities & Local Governments Africa  (UCLGA). More information on these two crucial institutions is provided below.

The AAI Steering Committee

The AAI Steering Committee includes representatives of leading African initiatives and bodies representing the African people, including the African Union Commission and the AMCEN Secretariat. Moreover, representatives from all African regions are included.


Besides that, AAI takes a uniquely inclusive approach through the intregration as also the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and United Cities & Local Governments Africa  (UCLGA). More information on these two crucial institutions is provided below.

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance is a crucial stakeholder in the area of climate change adaptation in Africa. PACJA is a network of more than 1000 organizations from 48 countries in Africa. It is based in Kenya and consists of NGOs, grassroots organizations, trusts, foundations, indigenous communities, farmers, community-based organizations, and religious organizations. PACJA advocates for climate and environmental justice and it is a people-centered consortium. Because it represents so many civil society organizations, it is a crucial stakeholder in the area of climate change and adaptation politics, advocacy and action.

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance is a crucial stakeholder in the area of climate change adaptation in Africa. PACJA is a network of more than 1000 organizations from 48 countries in Africa. It is based in Kenya and consists of NGOs, grassroots organizations, trusts, foundations, indigenous communities, farmers, community-based organizations, and religious organizations. PACJA advocates for climate and environmental justice and it is a people-centered consortium. Because it represents so many civil society organizations, it is a crucial stakeholder in the area of climate change and adaptation politics, advocacy and action.

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance is a crucial stakeholder in the area of climate change adaptation in Africa. PACJA is a network of more than 1000 organizations from 48 countries in Africa. It is based in Kenya and consists of NGOs, grassroots organizations, trusts, foundations, indigenous communities, farmers, community-based organizations, and religious organizations. PACJA advocates for climate and environmental justice and it is a people-centered consortium. Because it represents so many civil society organizations, it is a crucial stakeholder in the area of climate change and adaptation politics, advocacy and action.

United Cities and Local Governments Africa is the umbrella organization for African local governments. Established as the African section of the world organization UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), UCLG Africa now boasts a membership of 44 national associations of local governments from all regions of Africa, as well as 2000 cities that each have over 100,000 inhabitants. As such, the organization represents nearly 350 million African citizens. Local governments and cities are in general much more difficulty accessing climate finance and investments than national-level institutions. Thus, UCLGA is a crucial stakeholder in the area of adaptation action and risk financing, representing many actors with most difficulty accessing climate finance. AAI is also hosted in UCLGA offices in Cairo and Rabat.

United Cities and Local Governments Africa is the umbrella organization for African local governments. Established as the African section of the world organization UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), UCLG Africa now boasts a membership of 44 national associations of local governments from all regions of Africa, as well as 2000 cities that each have over 100,000 inhabitants. As such, the organization represents nearly 350 million African citizens. Local governments and cities are in general much more difficulty accessing climate finance and investments than national-level institutions. Thus, UCLGA is a crucial stakeholder in the area of adaptation action and risk financing, representing many actors with most difficulty accessing climate finance. AAI is also hosted in UCLGA offices in Cairo and Rabat.

United Cities and Local Governments Africa is the umbrella organization for African local governments. Established as the African section of the world organization UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), UCLG Africa now boasts a membership of 44 national associations of local governments from all regions of Africa, as well as 2000 cities that each have over 100,000 inhabitants. As such, the organization represents nearly 350 million African citizens. Local governments and cities are in general much more difficulty accessing climate finance and investments than national-level institutions. Thus, UCLGA is a crucial stakeholder in the area of adaptation action and risk financing, representing many actors with most difficulty accessing climate finance. AAI is also hosted in UCLGA offices in Cairo and Rabat.

Work with Us

AAI is continuously looking to work with and through African and international partners. We both design programs ourselves and take a facilitative role, working closely with partners and African nations and improving coordination and coherence between various efforts. Working via partnerships, AAI helps African nations mobilize and access resources to respond to their adaptation needs. And, as a continent-wide body, AAI helps facilitate the wide exchange of knowledge, good practice, and lessons learned and enables high level political advocacy to meet the challenges of climate change.

Work with Us

AAI is continuously looking to work with and through African and international partners. We both design programs ourselves and take a facilitative role, working closely with partners and African nations and improving coordination and coherence between various efforts. Working via partnerships, AAI helps African nations mobilize and access resources to respond to their adaptation needs. And, as a continent-wide body, AAI helps facilitate the wide exchange of knowledge, good practice, and lessons learned and enables high level political advocacy to meet the challenges of climate change.

Work with Us

AAI is continuously looking to work with and through African and international partners. We both design programs ourselves and take a facilitative role, working closely with partners and African nations and improving coordination and coherence between various efforts. Working via partnerships, AAI helps African nations mobilize and access resources to respond to their adaptation needs. And, as a continent-wide body, AAI helps facilitate the wide exchange of knowledge, good practice, and lessons learned and enables high level political advocacy to meet the challenges of climate change.

Our Team

Our Team

Copyright © 2025 Africa Adaptation Initiative.

All Rights Reserved

  • HQ: UCLG Africa, North Africa Regional Office

    48 Joseph Tito Street, Nozha El Gedida, Cairo, Egypt

  • Rabat Office: UCLG Africa, 22 Rue Essaadyine, Hassan - Rabat, Morocco

  • coordination@aai-tsu.org

Copyright © 2025 Africa Adaptation Initiative.

All Rights Reserved

  • HQ: UCLG Africa, North Africa Regional Office

    48 Joseph Tito Street, Nozha El Gedida, Cairo, Egypt

  • Rabat Office: UCLG Africa, 22 Rue Essaadyine, Hassan - Rabat, Morocco

  • coordination@aai-tsu.org

Copyright © 2025 Africa Adaptation Initiative.

All Rights Reserved

  • HQ: UCLG Africa, North Africa Regional Office

    48 Joseph Tito Street, Nozha El Gedida, Cairo, Egypt

  • Rabat Office: UCLG Africa, 22 Rue Essaadyine, Hassan - Rabat, Morocco

  • coordination@aai-tsu.org