The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, is less than a week away. As the world gears up for this event, negotiators, climate activists, and world governments have trained conversations on climate finance, with emphasis on Africa and the global south, which have borne the brunt of climate change.
However, as the world decries the need for support and equitable distribution of climate finance to bolster mitigation, adaptation, and transition to green energy, it is crucial to highlight the climate action of countries in the region.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, As the impacts of climate change are increasingly felt across Africa, countries in the region are nevertheless leading on climate action and making the most of the climate solutions the continent has to offer.
Three African countries have especially created precedence which other nations around the world can emulate by embracing transparency, inclusion, and scientific partnerships. Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia are demonstrating that real progress towards climate action is possible.
Uganda’s MRV Tool: Advancing Climate Action with Real-Time Tracking and Reporting
Uganda has launched an innovative Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) tool that tracks greenhouse gas emissions and measures progress on climate goals outlined in its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
The interactive tool monitors both adaptation and mitigation efforts, ensuring streamlined data collection and comprehensive reporting across various sectors. It also aligns Uganda’s climate actions with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators and tracks climate finance flows, highlighting funding gaps to improve planning for NDC implementation. Supported by UNDP’s Climate Promise and SCALA Programme, the MRV tool represents a holistic approach, integrating climate and development goals to maximize societal and environmental benefits.
Kenya’s Ambitious Forest Conservation Efforts
In response to decades of deforestation, Kenya is focused on preserving and expanding its forest ecosystems. The country reached its initial goal of 10% tree cover by 2022 and is now aiming for 30% by 2050, as part of its broader climate strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance adaptation efforts
Kenya’s unique approach involves a whole-of-society strategy, engaging community groups, local authorities, and the national government to rehabilitate key forest areas like Kaptagat and Kakamega.
This initiative benefits around 2 million people who rely on forest resources for their livelihoods. Local schools are actively participating in tree-planting campaigns, with 20 schools in Narok County involved in a nationwide effort across 4,800 schools that also fosters environmental education for students.
Moreover, Kenya acknowledges the vital role of Indigenous communities in forest conservation by providing grants to local NGOs to support their efforts and leverage their traditional knowledge.
Through stakeholder involvement and community engagement, Kenya is making significant progress toward its climate goals and promoting a sustainable future for its ecosystems and citizens.
Strengthening Somalia’s Climate Action Through University Partnerships
Somalia is enhancing its climate action strategy by partnering with three universities—Moud University, Puntland State University, and SIMAD University—to implement its National Adaptation Plan (NAP). This collaboration helps bridge technical and institutional capacity gaps by leveraging academic expertise for training and outreach.
Supported by the Green Climate Fund and UNDP, the universities will contribute to designing a monitoring and evaluation framework and developing vulnerability assessment methodologies. Their role includes participation in the project’s steering committee, initially as observers and later as advisors, to foster deeper collaboration.
These partnerships aim to create a sustainable knowledge base and ensure that institutional learning continues to benefit Somalia’s long-term climate initiatives, using cutting-edge research to enhance the effectiveness of its strategies.
These three African countries have taken the lead in creating innovative approaches to transparency, and partnerships, and involving all segments of society to strengthen their efforts in addressing climate change. These instances provide valuable models that other countries around the globe can learn from and emulate
