Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13 July 2026. The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) today marked the successful conclusion of Phase 1 of the Transformative Climate Finance Program of the AU Green Recovery Action Plan (TCFP AU-GRAP) and the launch of its second phase, at the Phase 1 End-of-Project Reception held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Addis Ababa. 

Jointly implemented by the AUC and GGGI in partnership with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and with financial support from Global Affairs Canada, Phase 1 of the program concluded on 30 June 2026 after 2.5 years of work to strengthen climate finance readiness across the continent. 

Since its inception, the program supported seven pilot AU Member States, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, and Zambia, along with three Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Together, these countries and institutions worked to enhance institutional capacities, develop national climate finance strategies and investment pipelines, and advance gender-responsive approaches to climate finance. 

Among the program’s key achievements, the establishment of a Climate Finance Desk within the African Union Commission, the development of climate finance strategies and project pipelines in participating countries, the training of more than 200 policymakers and practitioners, the creation of expert working groups, and the design of new tools and systems to strengthen climate finance governance and mobilization across the region. 

Guests at the reception included representatives of AU-GRAP Member States and RECs, development partners, and long-standing program stakeholders, who gathered to reflect on the program’s milestones and reaffirm their collective commitment to advancing climate finance and green investment across Africa. 

“AU-GRAP demonstrates the power of partnership in addressing Africa’s climate challenges,” said H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission. “By unlocking climate finance, we are building resilience, creating green jobs, and advancing sustainable development for present and future generations.” 

Global Affairs Canada, the program’s Phase 1 funder, also reflected on the partnership’s impact. “Canada is proud to have supported the AU-GRAP Transformative Climate Finance Program in advancing climate finance readiness and investment-ready projects across Africa,” a Canada representative said. “We welcome the launch of Phase 2, supported by the United Kingdom, to build on this momentum and further drive green investment and climate resilience across the continent.” 

The reception also marked the launch of Phase 2 of the program, which will run from July 2026 to December 2028 with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Building on Phase 1’s foundation, Phase 2 will focus on national-level implementation in the same seven target countries, moving from climate finance readiness to delivery, maturing bankable green investment projects, mobilizing catalytic finance, and strengthening the African Union’s Climate Finance Unit as the continent’s coordination hub for climate finance. 

“Climate finance and green investment are essential to Africa’s future,” said Ambassador Adam Drury, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UK Office to the African Union. “The UK is therefore proud to support Phase 2 of the Transformative Climate Finance Program of the AU Green Recovery Action Plan, which builds on the important work and achievements of the African Union Commission, Global Green Growth Institute, and Global Affairs Canada.” 

Katerina Syngellakis, Africa Regional Director at GGGI, underscored the significance of the transition between phases. “As we close Phase 1 of the TCFP AU-GRAP program, we celebrate the strong foundation built with the African Union Commission, Member States, and partners to strengthen climate finance readiness, develop national green investment pipelines, and advance inclusive climate action across Africa,” she said. “Phase 2 marks an important step from readiness to delivery: maturing bankable projects, mobilizing catalytic finance, and supporting African countries to turn climate ambition into resilient, investable solutions for people and planet.” 

Phase 2 will be structured around two interlinked outcomes, project development and pipeline maturation, and country-level intervention and capacity strengthening, contributing to the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and aligned with the AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022–2032).  

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For Further Information

Hohit S. Gebreegziabher

Program Manager, TCFP, AU-GRAP, Email: hohit.gebreegziabher@gggi.org or HohitS@africa-union.org