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The document examines the critical role of African IFIs in bridging the continent's infrastructure gap to enable the AfCFTA. It highlights a significant annual financing need of $130–$170 billion, with transport being the most deficient sector. While IFIs like the AfDB, AFC, and Afreximbank have invested billions, the author argues that financing still relies too heavily on governments with limited fiscal space. The brief recommends establishing a results-oriented coordination model and a dedicated agency to improve project bankability to better attract private institutional investors.

The document outlines the work of the Global Solidarity Levy Task Force (GSLTF) in developing 16 tax options targeting undertaxed, high-emission sectors to bridge the trillion-dollar financing gap for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. It highlights the potential for these levies to generate over $500 billion in annual revenue and calls for developing countries to engage in the design and assessment of these mechanisms to ensure equitable access to funds. The brief details the GSLTF's efforts to build political momentum through international forums and its submission to the Baku to Belém Roadmap to support the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance.

The 'Banking on Renewables' report critiques the current funding models of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), arguing that the rush to increase renewable energy capacity often leads to 'green extractivism' and human rights violations. It proposes three core criteria for public funding: financing a total transition to 100% renewables (excluding 'false solutions' like CCUS), ensuring democratic and decentralized energy systems, and centering people and the planet. Through case studies in India, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Indonesia, the report contrasts large-scale projects that displace communities with community-led initiatives that improve local livelihoods. It concludes with a ten-point action plan urging MDBs to increase grants over loans, adopt a strict renewable energy taxonomy, and mandate Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for all projects.

The study analyzes 320 adaptation investments totaling $133 billion across 12 countries, finding an average economic internal rate of return (EIRR) of 26.7%. Using the Triple Dividend of Resilience (TDR) framework, the authors demonstrate that benefits from induced economic development and social/environmental gains often double the value of avoided losses, meaning many investments are viable regardless of whether a climate disaster occurs. The paper highlights significant synergies between adaptation and mitigation, noting that nearly half of the evaluated projects yield GHG emission reductions. It recommends that multilateral development banks and governments adopt common reporting frameworks and disaggregate benefits to attract private capital.

The document details a pilot flood insurance initiative in Kenya designed to provide financial resilience to vulnerable populations in flood-prone areas. Following a feasibility study in Tana River, Kilifi, and Kisumu counties, Britam Insurance Kenya and FSD Africa launched a product that provided payouts to 300 families in Tana River County during the October–December 2023 floods. The programme specifically targeted marginalized groups, with 75% of insured households headed by women, youth, or persons with disabilities. The initiative utilized catalytic funding from FSD Africa and premium subsidies from Oxfam Kenya, with Swiss Re covering 80% of claims, establishing a model for scaling climate adaptation and disaster response in other Kenyan regions.

Saglan Wajee General Hospital has introduced Efoy, a micro-health insurance product designed for underserved communities in Ethiopia. Supported by FSD Africa's BimaLab Insurtech Accelerator Program, the hospital secured a license from the National Bank of Ethiopia to launch Efoy 1.0, which attracted over 1,200 customers in its first year with annual premiums starting at 400 birr (4 USD) per child and 800 birr (8 USD) per adult. The subsequent Efoy 2.0 version expanded coverage to include chronic patients and services like MRI and medication, reaching an additional 900 clients. The hospital plans to expand its network to 130 health facilities and open a branch in Addis Ababa.

Farm to Feed addresses food waste in Kenya by purchasing surplus and imperfect produce from farmers and selling it to B2B customers or donating it to schools. Supported by FSD Africa's Catalyst Fund, the company has scaled its network from 300 to 6,000 farmers, resulting in a 41% increase in farmer incomes and the prevention of 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions by saving 920,000 kg of food.

VUA Inc. is a social enterprise addressing the financial instability of small-scale fishers in Kenya, who face irregular incomes and limited access to formal credit. Supported by $55,000 in seed capital from the Triggering Exponential Climate Action (TECA) programme, VUA Inc. piloted a platform on Kiwayu Island that allows 38 fishermen to save during high seasons for use during lean periods. The enterprise also provides an AI-powered financial literacy tool, a small-scale loan programme for sustainable fishing equipment, and hygiene training to improve product value and environmental practices.

AquaMnara provides Kenyan aquaculture farmers with technical training, linkages to certified suppliers, and an e-voucher credit system to overcome financing gaps and environmental challenges. The initiative supports sustainable productivity, specifically targeting women through the provision of aquaculture cages and training, and has enabled individual farmers to expand operations and adopt solar-powered infrastructure.

The statement emphasizes that while Africa possesses significant natural and financial capital, power imbalances in the international financial architecture hinder its mobilization. It highlights the severe impact of illicit financial flows and debt servicing on public services and calls for a collaborative approach between the African Development Bank, governments, and civil society to ensure transparent, sustainable, and equitable financial governance.

The 2025 Climate Litigation Lab, hosted by Surge Africa and partners, addressed the systemic use of SLAPP suits by corporations and governments to intimidate climate activists in Africa. The event resulted in the launch of an Africa-specific SLAPP Toolkit and the development of strategies for legal advocacy, strategic communications, and regional solidarity to protect environmental defenders.

The document examines UNI2, a Colombian microfinance institution, to determine how financial intermediaries can support responsible investment in agricultural value chains. By applying an adapted RAI Tool methodology involving self-assessments and interviews, the study explores UNI2's role in influencing sustainable practices and providing feedback to improve the RAI Tool's scoring and filtering mechanisms. The analysis demonstrates that financial institutions contribute to responsible agricultural investment by providing capital, influencing behaviors, and sharing knowledge within rural economies.

The report finds that while carbon markets have the potential to generate social and economic benefits for LMIC communities, current impacts are often suboptimal or negative due to poor project design and governance. Agricultural and energy efficiency projects generally show higher potential for positive community impact than pure forest conservation projects, which often restrict access to vital resources. Key barriers include low carbon prices in voluntary markets, delayed payments, and the exclusion of women due to land tenure structures. Positive outcomes are linked to pro-poor design, inclusive governance, higher carbon prices for co-benefits, and adherence to stringent standards like the CCB Standard.

The East African Community (EAC) has expanded its membership to include the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia, aiming to increase its geopolitical influence and market size. However, this growth strains the bloc's institutional capacity, particularly regarding financial sustainability, bureaucratic efficiency, and the harmonisation of economic policies among fragile states. The inclusion of conflict-prone members introduces significant security risks, though it also provides opportunities for collective regional stability and trade integration through frameworks like the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement.

The document argues that while African governments have set ambitious adaptation targets, governance and financial constraints hinder the effectiveness of these efforts. It advocates for locally led adaptation (LLA) as a participatory strategy to ensure resilience is context-specific and inclusive. Key barriers identified include a disconnect between national policies and local needs, limited direct access to climate finance for local actors, and weak monitoring systems. The brief recommends integrating Indigenous knowledge, devolving decision-making, and expanding decentralized finance to empower local communities.

Malawi is leveraging carbon markets to attract climate finance, protect ecosystems, and support its 2063 Vision. While the country has historically faced transparency issues and a lack of regulation, the government is now implementing a Carbon Trading Regulatory Framework and the Malawi Carbon Markets Initiative to oversee trade and ensure benefit-sharing. The Kulera Landscape REDD+ Program serves as a model for integrating local communities as partners rather than just beneficiaries. However, significant barriers remain, including technical capacity gaps in government, limited finance for smallholder farmers, and gender inequality in leadership.

The document examines how rapidly growing cities in India and Kenya rely on informal, decentralized water solutions—termed 'gridless water configurations'—to bridge gaps in failing or insufficient centralized infrastructure. It highlights the risks of unregulated groundwater extraction and social inequality, while proposing that water authorities formally recognize and co-design these systems with local communities to create more resilient and equitable urban water governance.

This briefing provides an overview of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), detailing compliance requirements for operators and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in meeting these obligations.

The document advocates for model investment contracts as a tool for governments, particularly in developing countries, to bridge gaps in domestic legislation and ensure balanced, consistent, and sustainable agricultural investments.

The statement evaluates the World Bank Group's Interim Remedial Action Framework (RAF), praising the recognition of the IFC and MIGA's role in remedial action and the commitment to fund enabling activities. However, it criticizes the framework for lacking explicit financial commitments for non-compliance, failing to provide guidance for financial intermediary sub-projects, and excluding remedy for legacy harms from concluded projects.