Directors of Climate Finance in East Africa Convene in Kigali to Accelerate Climate Finance for a Resilient Future
February 20, 2026
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Kigali, Rwanda, 18 February 2026. Robust regional partnerships are central to mobilising climate finance at a scale that matches East Africa’s climate priorities. This message anchored discussions as senior government officials, climate finance experts, and development partners from across the East Africa region and beyond convene in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 7th East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting (7th EACFDLM).
Held under the theme “From Frameworks to Action: Scaling Up Climate Finance to Advance NDC 3.0 Ambitions,” the meeting, which kicked off on Wednesday, focused on strengthening climate finance governance, integrating climate risks into public financial planning, and accelerating access to climate finance for climate action.
Hon. Mutesi Rusagara, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Resource Mobilization and Public Investment, underscored the importance of strong collaboration and leadership in translating climate commitments into measurable impacts. “Climate is not a sectoral issue to be left to environment ministries alone. It is a macroeconomic and development challenge that touches fiscal stability, public investment, debt sustainability, and the resilience of our growth model. The government’s response to climate change is therefore too important to be left solely to climate ministers. “Climate change remains one of the greatest threats to our economies, our communities, and our shared development aspirations. It requires not only ambition but coordinated, well‑resourced, and sustained action. Ms. Beatrice Jerono, Senior Budget Officer, East African Community Secretariat remarked.
The EACFDLM reflects the region’s growing leadership in transforming climate ambition into institutional systems that deliver investment at scale. Eng. Dr. Pablo Martinez, Country Representative, GGGI Uganda, Angola, and Zambia, noted: “Moving from frameworks to action requires not only technical solutions but coordinated regional commitment, and this platform demonstrates both.”
Reinforcing the importance of structured regional approaches, NDC Partnership Global Director Pablo Vieira stated: “East African countries are collaborating to unlock climate finance by moving beyond fragmented projects toward more coherent, structured approaches that support long-term investment in national climate and development priorities. The East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting provides a critical platform for countries to align their efforts and scale investment across the region.”
The first day of the 7th EACFDLM sparked intensive dialogue on how East African countries can move from policy frameworks toward implementation by strengthening systems that enable the effective flow of climate finance. While reaffirming a shared commitment to regional cooperation, participants emphasized the importance of aligning climate priorities with national development strategies and public financial management systems to advance NDC 3.0 ambitions.
Speaking on behalf of the United Kingdom, Ms. Jennifer Stockhill, Deputy High Commissioner, emphasized the importance of sustained partnerships: “The UK has long worked with partners across East Africa to support sustainable growth, strengthen resilience, and help build the conditions for effective climate action. Our cooperation with the Rwanda Green Fund reflects a shared commitment to practical, locally driven solutions that delivers long-term benefits for communities and the environment.”
The hybrid meeting brings together delegates from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, alongside peer-learning countries including Zambia, regional actors including the East Africa Community (EAC), and development partners like the United Kingdom and Germany. Through focused technical sessions and peer-to-peer learning, delegates examined priority areas including climate finance governance, institutional coordination, and innovative approaches to mobilizing climate finance.
Discussions underscored the value of coordinated regional initiatives in strengthening readiness to access international climate finance, developing bankable national and regional project pipelines, enhancing private sector participation, and improving policy implementation at the local level.
Delegates further identified opportunities to strengthen the integrity of climate finance information and to leverage regional platforms such as the EACFDLM to support the coordinated delivery of NDC 3.0 ambitions.
The 7th EACFDLM was organized by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The event was funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with technical support provided by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The NDC Partnership Support Unit, in its capacity as host of the Center for Access to Climate Finance, contributed to event planning.
Looking ahead, the meeting endorsed a shared regional commitment to move from dialogue to delivery, strengthen resilience, and drive inclusive green growth across East Africa. GGGI reaffirmed its commitment to supporting country-led and regionally coordinated efforts for inclusive climate action.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting (EACFDLM)
The East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting (EACFDLM) is a regional, government-led platform that brings together senior officials and climate finance experts from across the region to strengthen climate finance mobilisation and implementation across East Africa. The meetings were established by GGGI and the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in Uganda. The meetings are co-chaired by the two Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance trial countries in the region (Uganda and Rwanda) and are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through GGGI.
Since its inception in February 2023, the EACFDLM has convened biannually across the region and supports countries to advance country-driven, programmatic approaches to accessing climate finance aligned with national development priorities. The meetings are technically and logistically supported by the Global Green Growth Institute.
About Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization dedicated to supporting developing and emerging countries in their transition to a green growth economic model. GGGI does this by providing policy advice, technical support, and assistance in mobilizing green investments.
Media Contact:
Mildred Nakagwe, GGGI Uganda
Innocent Muvunyi, GGGI Rwanda
Sam Ruburika, Ministry of Economic Planning and Finance, Rwanda