Arusha, Tanzania – February 19-20, 2025 – Eight countries from the East Africa region convened for climate action during the 5^th East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting (EACFDLM) in Arusha, Tanzania. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Finance of the United Republic of Tanzania in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) under a UK Government, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office [FCDO]-funded project. It aimed to assess different countries’ progress in mobilizing climate finance, identify challenges and explore opportunities to enhance access to and effective utilization of climate finance.

The effects of climate change have been felt immensely within the East Africa region with the ever-changing weather patterns including the limited access to resources on climate adaptation, and the technical capacity gaps, and in June 2023, within the East and Horn of Africa, it was estimated that about 1.4 million people were displaced due to climate change induced events [1]. The goal of the EACFDLM is to ensure the establishment of a regional framework that supports countries within the East Africa region with climate resilience.

“By sharing experiences, lessons learnt, and challenges, we can enhance our efforts to access and leverage climate finance effectively. Thank you to GGGI for spearheading this initiative.” Ms. Maris Wanyera, Ag. Director Debt and Cash Policy – Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development stated.

“The pressing need for climate finance is clear, our climate finance strategies need to leverage both domestic and international funding sources, as well as innovative mechanisms. Bilateral and multilateral financing, carbon markets, private sector investments, and the emerging EAC Climate Change Fund all represent vital pathways for securing the resources necessary to tackle this challenge.” Hon. Hamad H. Chande, Deputy Minister for Finance of The United Republic of Tanzania highlighted.

“Mahitaji ya fedha ni ya lazima katika masuala ya tabianchi. Mikakati yetu ya utafutaji fedha ni lazima iwe bunifu na kwa kutafuta vyanzo vya ndani na vya kimataifa kutoka kwa nchi wahisani, masoko ya hewa ya ukaaa, sekta binafsi na hata Mfuko wa Fedha za Afrika Mashariki za Mabadiliko ya Tabianchi.” Hon. Hamad H. Chande.

“Regional cooperation, joint projects, knowledge sharing, integrating green taxonomy and encouraging public-private partnerships are key to closing the climate finance gap.” emphasized Dr. Pablo Martinez, Country Representative GGGI Uganda, Angola and Zambia.

Through the EACFDLM, the East Africa region can leverage technical expertise in the different sectors to address the challenges of climate change and increase cooperation within the region. It provides a platform for knowledge exchange, resource mobilisation and increased partnerships with both regional and international actors for climate resilience which in the long run will enable countries to achieve their NDC priorities while building strong, inclusive and sustainable economies.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, regional actors, East Africa Community (EAC), Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, and development partners, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, European Union, Global Green Growth Institute, and the NDC Partnership.

Moving forward, to accelerate the region’s capacity in access to climate finance, GGGI will continue working with the EAC to leverage partnerships, technical support, strengthen knowledge capacity, and develop bankable projects to ensure climate action for the region.

About Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 49 Member States, and 29 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 51 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org/