TRADE-CLIMATE NEXUS
Trade is one of the structural enablers of a just climate transition. It can create opportunities if policies are well designed or it can have disproportionately negative effects on African countries if executed in isolation. We seek to facilitate a focus on the former, while pushing back on unilateral action that can be detrimental to African countries. Our interest is in promoting a multilateral approach that benefits structural transformation.
Financing the Green Transition
There is a fundamental disconnect between capital flows necessary to address sustainable development and climate goals, and the actual needs and priorities of African countries. We strenghten Africa’s agenda by connecting the global financing ecosystem to local contexts and advancing policy and negotiating options that can avail accessible, affordable and adequate finance.
Green Industrialisation
Green industrialisation provides an important opportunity for Africa’s structural transformation. Africa holds 30% of the green transition minerals reserves globally. Similarly, African potential on clean power could position the continent as a competitive destination of clean delocalised manufacturing. To ensure African countries reap the full benefits of their green industrialisation potential, we seek to work with our ecosystem of partners to develop policy synergies for effective green transformation.
Digital Transformation
The digital transformation can present opportunities for the African continent, including as a lever for the green transition. To ensure that the potential is translated into real benefits, African countries will need to leverage existing mechanisms, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area Digital Trade Protocol (AfCFTA DTP), and ensure alignment of international standards and agreements to their domestic digital transition ambitions.
Geopolitics
Geopolitics is a cross-cutting theme in our work. The world is currently going through significant geopolitical shifts that will have an impact on cooperation for effective climate action, trade, just transition and the means to implement it, including finance.