As global climate ambitions intensify and the need for scalable technology solutions grows, Africa’s National Designated Entities (NDEs) are stepping up to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation.

The UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) convened the Africa Joint Programme to drive forward regional collaboration, strengthen finance-technology linkages, and equip NDEs with the tools to turn national climate priorities into transformational action.

Hosted by the CTCN, under the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, the programme brought together over 40 climate technology focal points from across the continent, multilateral development banks, private sector actors, and international climate funds.

The platform is crucial as it enables the exchange of best practices, shares innovations, and aligns support with Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs).

According to Halima Bawa Bwari, Member of the CTCN Advisory Board, technology and finance must work hand in hand to address the climate crisis.

Halima emphasized that this Forum strengthens regional collaboration to ensure Africa’s voice not only is heard but actively shapes the global climate, technology, and finance landscape.

“Regional forums like this also empower NDEs to design, assess, and scale impactful interventions that align national priorities with funding, while upholding climate integrity, equity, and social benefit,” said Halima.

The 2025 joint programme focuses on engaging multiple stakeholders and the financial readiness of participants to explore ways to accelerate the deployment of climate technologies to unlock financing across the innovation chain, especially for technologies approaching market deployment.

In a strategic expansion of its support model, the programme was coupled with a dedicated capacity-building workshop on climate finance, enabling participants to:

• Map regional and global financing actors, from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to philanthropic funds;
• Design technically sound, finance-ready assistance requests;
• Apply metrics such as Social Return on Investment (SROI) and risk safeguards to enhance long-term impact.

Ariesta Ningrum, Director of the CTCN, pointed out that their main role is to ensure that climate technologies are not just available, but accessible, inclusive, and impactful where they are needed most.

“As we look toward COP30, it is clear that climate ambition must be matched with actionable support, and that means technology. The CTCN is evolving to meet this challenge by deepening its partnerships, expanding access to digital innovation, and strengthening the local capacities to turn national priorities into investment-ready solutions,” said Ariesta.

The week-long programme included a field visit to the Generation Restoration Project managed by UNEP in Karura Forest reserve in Nairobi city, offering NDEs a firsthand look at nature-based climate solutions in action.

The visit showcased how the restoration of indigenous tree species and the removal of invasive plants contribute directly to both climate change adaptation and mitigation, while also enhancing local biodiversity and ecosystem resilience