Climate action: UCLG Africa shares best practices in Capacity Building at the Adaptation Futures Conference 

From October 02 to 06, 2023, UCLG Africa, through its African Local Government Academy (ALGA), took part in the 7th edition of the Adaptation Futures conference in Montreal (Canada). This event brought together over 2,000 people from the climate change adaptation community in a hybrid format, to exchange cutting-edge knowledge and solutions for shaping a resilient future and collectively facing the new climate reality.   

UCLG Africa took part in the proceedings and organized a session on October 06 in partnership with France’s Ecological Transition Agency (ADEME). The session focused on: “Sharing Good Practice on Methodology for Empowerment, Training and Capacity Building in Climate Action”. 

Some thirty people had the opportunity to listen to the best practices of African experts working with local authorities. The session was moderated by Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Director of Development, Knowledge Management and ALGA in UCLG Africa. The opening address was given by Ms. Céline Phillips, Coordinator of the Multilateral Initiatives Unit, Europe and International Division, ADEME. The online and face-to-face panelists were: 

Mrs. Fariath Chabi, ALGA Task Manager in UCLG Africa, Benin, “Sharing good practice, UCLG Africa and ADEME partnership”. 

Dr. Joseph Magloire OLINGA OLINGA, Geographer – Land use planning, project management and climate issues, in charge of urban and environmental studies, Cameroon; 

Dr. Adjoua N’Groma Nadège BOKO épse KOIADIA, Professor-researcher, University Félix Houphouët-Boigny Abidjan-Cocody/Department of Sociology, Côte d’Ivoire; 

Mrs. Najat MOUSSAOUI, Training Executive in the Oriental Region, Morocco; 

Mr. Arthur Koné, Ministry of Water and Forestry, Côte d’Ivoire; 

Mr. Fakassi Fofana, Chairman of the NGO Grat Board, Mali; 

Mr. Parfait BLALOGOE, Climate change management trainer.  

In her introductory message, Mrs. Céline Phillips from ADEME welcomed the partnership ongoing with UCLG Africa since 2018. “This partnership with UCLG Africa is in line with our shared visions of arming local authorities to tackle climate change.” 

The various experience-sharing sessions led to the following recommendations:   

*Invest in win-win partnerships;  

*Encourage co-creation, so that training and experience are adapted to the realities of each community on the continent;  

* Invest in the human capital of local authorities, so that they can support governments in meeting their climate action commitments.  

In attendance was Dr. Nana Atu Arthur, Director General of Local Governance in Ghana. The full video of the session is available here. 

On October 04, 2023, Dr. Zarrouk was a panelist at the session organized by ADEME on: “Developing the capacity of professionals to adapt to climate change: the leverage effect of international cooperation”. She highlighted the fact that at UCLG Africa, the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) and the Network of the Young Elected Local Officials of Africa (YELO) are key players involved in the Climate Agenda, adding that the transfer of skills to local officials must be accompanied by a real transfer of financial resources. Lack of funding is blocking many mayors from implementing actions to combat climate change. Other panelists included Judy Zakreski of the International Code Council, USA, and Garfield Young, Professor of Geomatics and Dean of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Technology, Jamaica.   

The UCLG Africa delegation also took part in several meetings during this 7th edition of the Adaptation Futures Conference. Watch the videos to find out the main impressions of three experts who made the trip: