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1. Background:

The devastating impacts of climate change have increased in Africa and include severe droughts, floods, reduced agricultural yields, food and water insecurity. Climate change threatens the economic growth of African states and impedes progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The recent IPCC report has found that the GDP per capita for 1991–2010 in Africa was on average 13.6% lower compared to if climate change had not occurred

To address this concerning situation, African Heads of States launched the African Adaptation Initiative (AAI) at the COP21 in Paris in 2015. This was the result of a mandate provided by the 25th African Union Summit to the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) to enhance support to Africa on adaptation together with the African Group of Negotiators, in order to respond to increasing climate change challenges. AAI is designed as the initiative of Africa for Africa aimed at strengthening the resilience of African countries where communities, ecosystems, and economies are safeguarded against the adverse impacts of climate change.

AAI’s vision is to achieve enhanced adaptation on the Continent and a significant contribution to climate resilience in the context of implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the African Union’s (AU’s) 2063 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Initiative’s mission is to accelerate and scale up adaptation efforts across the continent, enhancing the capacity of nations to respond to the impacts of climate change through strategic planning, financing, and implementation of adaptation projects.

Since its launch in 2015, AAI has achieved visibility and reputation as a responsive adaptation initiative for Africa. This is the result of four years of strategic consultations, plans and partnerships under AAI Phase I (2015-2016) and AAI Phase II (2017-2019) as well as recent work under AAI Phase III (2020-2030),