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The GCF's fifteenth annual report highlights a record year of programming with USD 3.26 billion approved in 2025 and a total portfolio exceeding USD 20 billion. Key institutional shifts include the establishment of regional offices in Panama City, Amman, Nairobi, Abidjan, and Suva to enhance country ownership and access. The Fund reports a near-parity balance between adaptation and mitigation in nominal terms, with 59.24% of the portfolio in grant equivalent terms dedicated to adaptation. Significant progress was made in private sector engagement, reaching a cumulative USD 7.21 billion. The report also details the 'Efficient GCF' initiative to reduce project appraisal times to nine months or less and the operationalization of a revised accreditation framework.

Kenya faces a significant economic burden from fossil fuel imports and subsidies despite having a nearly 90 percent renewable electricity grid. The report argues that transitioning away from fossil fuels is an economic imperative, as revenues from potential oil and coal projects are insufficient to address the national debt. It proposes a three-step pathway: immediate integration of phase-out plans, short-to-medium term divestment and investment in high-growth sectors (renewable energy, e-mobility, climate-smart agriculture, green manufacturing, and the digital economy), and long-term decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. The document also highlights the risks of stranded assets and 'debt trap diplomacy' and recommends joining a Fossil Fuel Treaty to unlock international finance and technical support.

The report analyzes Kenya's development path toward 2043, comparing a 'Current Path' with eight ambitious sectoral scenarios and a 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario. Key findings highlight that while Kenya has a resilient economy and leads Africa in geothermal energy, it faces significant hurdles in corruption, infrastructure, and public debt. The analysis suggests that full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and improvements in governance would have the most substantial positive impacts on GDP per capita and poverty reduction. A combined approach of all scenarios could increase GDP by 123.1% over the current path and drastically reduce carbon emissions by transitioning fully to renewables.

The report outlines Kenya's transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy and its current administrative structure of 47 semi-autonomous counties. It details the country's diverse natural resources, including minerals and agricultural commodities, and examines the 'Vision 2030' development blueprint. The document highlights economic progress, such as GDP growth and poverty reduction between 2010 and 2019, while noting critical challenges including climate change, high energy costs, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russian war.

The report identifies Kenya as a pivotal East African economic powerhouse with the potential for a 685% GDP increase by 2043 under a Combined scenario. It argues that implementing eight sectoral interventions could raise GDP per capita to US$10,950 and reduce extreme poverty from 64.6% in 2019 to 6.4% by 2043. To ensure sustainable and equitable growth, the document recommends strengthening anti-corruption efforts, expanding education and healthcare, investing in modern irrigation, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy through geothermal, solar, and wind projects.

The document argues that AI represents a frontier for technological leapfrogging in Africa, capable of bypassing traditional constraints in education, healthcare, and governance. It highlights the potential for inclusive AI deployment to add US$ 1 trillion to the continent's GDP by 2035, particularly in sectors like agriculture and finance. A key example is provided by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which uses AI to shift tax administration from reactive enforcement to proactive compliance. However, the document notes that realizing this potential requires addressing gaps in computing infrastructure, digital skills, and regulatory frameworks. To support this, the AI 10 Billion Initiative aims to mobilize US$ 10 billion by 2035 to invest in AI infrastructure and skills, targeting the creation of up to 40 million jobs.

The research paper argues that Africa's infrastructure deficit is a cumulative result of colonial-era designs focused on extraction, post-independence mismanagement, and the impact of 1980s debt crises and Structural Adjustment Programs. It notes that colonial railways shaped current urban locations and that recent investments have often focused on prestige projects or specific corridors funded by external partners like China.

The paper identifies a disconnect between Nairobi's sanitation policy rhetoric and its implementation, noting that a focus on sewerage development marginalizes other sanitation regimes and fails to address equity. Projections suggest that climate change will exacerbate these inequalities, leaving a significant portion of the population with poor sanitation services by 2030.

The document describes a 'pragmatic' security integration between the US and Nigeria that avoids formal military treaties by using civilian instruments. By leveraging Section 126 of AGOA and the 'Safe Skies for Africa' initiative, the US provides decommissioned FAA equipment and technical assistance to modernize Nigerian airspace. This creates a 'shared awareness' corridor that serves both aviation safety and counter-insurgency monitoring, effectively replacing lost US surveillance capacity in the Sahel. However, the author warns that this operational deepening is contradicted by increasing political uncertainty in Washington regarding the future of AGOA, which some legislators seek to turn into a discretionary disciplinary tool.

The study evaluated emissions from charcoal, kerosene, LPG, and electricity in Kibera, Nairobi. It found that charcoal and kerosene produce the highest concentrations of pollutants, while LPG and electricity produce low concentrations. Ambient PM2.5 levels in the households were 14.2 times higher than the World Health Organization's 24-hour threshold.

Using Kenya as a primary case study, the authors examine how the shift from traditional manufacturing-based industrial policy to a platform-based digital economy risks creating a new form of 'informational dependency'. While Kenya has successfully integrated into global digital services, the authors find that value capture remains limited because data and algorithmic control reside with foreign platforms. The paper advocates for a holistic industrial policy that integrates data governance, decent work standards, and regional cooperation to ensure digital transformation leads to inclusive development rather than extractive accumulation.

The policy brief highlights the critical role of local governments in Africa and the Global South as implementers of climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity goals. It identifies systemic barriers—including severe finance gaps, technical capacity constraints, and data deficiencies—that hinder municipal action. The authors recommend that South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency establish a multi-level climate governance declaration, a dedicated local climate action forum, and a specialized finance access facility to empower subnational governments as equal partners in global climate governance.

FSD Africa expresses its support for the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, emphasizing the need to mobilize domestic private capital and demonstrate that climate investment and economic growth are complementary goals.

The policy brief highlights how market concentration in African agrifood systems, particularly in inputs like fertilisers and poultry feed, inflates food prices and undermines the ability of smallholder farmers to adapt to climate shocks. It notes that nearly half of Sub-Saharan African countries lack functional competition laws. The document recommends a three-pillar reform agenda based on market intelligence, regional cooperation (such as through the COMESA Competition Commission), and international donor support to dismantle cartels and ensure fair market access, especially for women-led agribusinesses.

The report argues that Africa must transition from a principled but often fragmented approach to a pragmatic diplomatic strategy to avoid becoming a 'rule-taker' in a fracturing multilateral system. It identifies critical weaknesses in African coordination, specifically within the A3+ bloc and the African Union's (AU) financial sustainability, and proposes concrete reforms for UN Security Council (UNSC) representation, peace and security financing, and the professionalization of diplomatic missions through think-tank partnerships.

The itinerary outlines a 12-day 'Kenya Rhino & Elephant Conservation Safari' scheduled for May 24 to June 4, 2026. Led by WWF's Nikhil Advani, the trip visits Nairobi, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Namunyak Conservancy, and the Maasai Mara to showcase rhino and elephant conservation. Key highlights include the Kifaru Rising anti-poaching project using thermal cameras and visits to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary and the world's last two northern white rhinos.

The document details the progress of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) toward a global plastics treaty, highlighting the divide between 'upstream' production controls and 'downstream' waste management. It discusses a 'non-paper' proposed by the chair to resolve 1,500 brackets of disagreed-upon text from INC-4, while noting that critical issues like plastic production, trade, and financial mechanisms remain unresolved.

Kenya faces significant cooling gaps, with millions of people in hot regions at risk due to poverty and lack of electricity. While the country has a high share of renewable energy, the growth of refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) threatens to increase emissions, necessitating a transition to sustainable cooling to align with Net Zero 2050 goals.

The report outlines a comprehensive strategy for transitioning Nigeria's mass transportation to electric buses, emphasizing the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) as the most viable procurement model. It identifies the transport sector as a major emitter, contributing approximately 15% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Using Lagos as a primary case study, the document details technical specifications for e-buses, charging infrastructure requirements, and the financial benefits of a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach. It recommends a phased 24-month implementation plan and policy reforms to encourage local assembly and renewable energy integration for charging.

The Action Against Covid-19 Transmission in Nairobi (ACT Nairobi) project utilized community 'champions' to create murals, comics, music, puppetry, and digital stories to communicate health messages. The project found that messaging from trusted local sources tailored to the local context is more effective at combating misinformation. The initiative resulted in long-term capacity building, including the formation of the Zindua Creative Organisation.