Investment is needed for climate intervention; Photo illustration from Pexel
At the 2nd Africa Climate Summit (ACS), President William Ruto of Kenya, as Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), issued a strong appeal for a new phase of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP 2.0).
He described it as a transformative opportunity to build resilience, generate jobs, and attract investment, while also positioning Africa as a global hub for climate solutions.
“Africa is in the eye of the storm of the climate crisis. This has also made Africa the cradle of climate solutions for the world,” said President Ruto.
He emphasized that AAAP 2.0 would not only protect the continent’s environment and climate, but also drive economic development and create livelihoods.
The call was made during the mandated ACS event, Scaling Africa’s Adaptation Action, co-hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA).
The session brought together leaders from Kenya, Ghana, and Zambia, alongside representatives from the African Union, development partners, financial institutions, and civil society.
Building on AAAP’s First Phase
AAAP was launched in 2021 through a partnership between the African Development Bank (AfDB) and GCA.
It was designed as a “triple-win” initiative to tackle the combined shocks of climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and economic pressures across the continent.
Since then, the program has channeled more than $15 billion into climate-resilient projects, supporting nearly 60 million vulnerable people in 40 countries and creating almost one million jobs.
The first phase also embedded adaptation into $25 billion worth of investments, benefitting over 200 million people and demonstrating that large-scale resilience building is achievable when governments and institutions work together.
Professor Patrick Verkooijen, GCA President and CEO, noted: “Phase 1 proved adaptation works from over 200 million people reacreached.l
AAAP 2.0 is the opportunity to rapidly scale the embedding of resilience across Africa’s markets, urban zones, and food systems firmly placing the continent to seize a high-upside future.”
Why the Target Doubled
Initially, AAAP had set a target of mobilizing $25 billion by 2025 for climate adaptation.
However, worsening climate impacts, coupled with rising adaptation costs projected for Africa, have made that goal insufficient.
Leaders at ACS explained that a doubling of ambition was necessary to meet the urgency of the moment.
AAAP 2.0 now aims to mobilize an additional $25 billion by 2025 bringing the total to $50 billion in adaptation financing.
This expanded target reflects both the scale of Africa’s needs and the conviction that adaptation is not only about survival but also about unlocking growth, industrialization, and sustainable development opportunities.
One of the strongest themes of the Addis summit was the central role of the private sector.
Currently, most adaptation financing for Africa comes from the public sector, with governments and international donors shouldering the bulk of the responsibility.
Leaders stressed that this approach is no longer enough.
To develop resilient green growth, there must be a step change: the private sector needs to move from the sidelines to the center of Africa’s adaptation agenda.
Mobilizing private finance, leveraging innovation, and scaling locally led solutions will be key.
As H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, stated:
“We stand firmly in support of AAAP Phase Two. It offers exactly the kind of African-owned platform that can move us from scattered projects to continental transformation. Indeed, with AAAP 2.0 and the AU’s Agenda 2063 as our compass, Africa has the opportunity to show the world that resilience is development. Africa is ready to lead, and to deliver adaptation at the speed and scale the world now demands.”
Opportunities for Growth and Investment
AAAP 2.0 is envisioned as the world’s largest adaptation partnership.
By embedding resilience into food systems, infrastructure, and urban development, the program seeks to open new frontiers for investment while protecting Africa’s economies from climate shocks.
Leaders highlighted that the private sector can play a decisive role in shaping this trajectory.
With partnerships involving regional commercial banks, national development finance institutions, and regulators, Africa can build markets that are not only climate-resilient but also profitable.
President Ruto underscored that this is about more than climate protection: it is about creating an environment where jobs are generated, industries thrive, and Africa becomes a destination for sustainable investment.
Toward COP30 and Beyond
Looking ahead, African leaders committed to advancing AAAP 2.0 as a vehicle to deliver system-wide resilience scaling.
The program is set to be a central agenda item between now, the UN General Assembly in New York, and COP30 in Brazil.
By aligning with Agenda 2063 and global climate goals, AAAP 2.0 positions Africa not only as a vulnerable continent demanding justice, but as a pioneer of solutions that blend resilience, growth, and innovation.
With its expanded ambition, the initiative sends a clear message: adaptation is no longer a side issue it is at the heart of Africa’s development and investment strategy.
And for that strategy to succeed, private sector leadership will be indispensable.
