As framed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the continent's wider development blueprint, Agenda 2063 'The Africa We Want', aimed at a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa, the continent is already being severely impacted by the adverse effects of climate change which is putting long-term development objectives at considerable risk. The 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming, calls for urgent action because even with a scenario of global warming at below 2 degrees Celsius (above pre-industrial levels as aimed for under the Paris Agreement), African economies will still be significantly impacted. Yet, the continent requires trillions of dollars of investment over the coming decades to plug huge investment gaps in key sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, transport, and landscape and ecosystems – all sectors which are very sensitive to climate change impacts. Unlike other economies, where huge investments are already locked-in and require retrofitting measures to climate-proof them, the demand for greenfield investments under high climate risks in Africa provides a unique opportunity to get investment right from the outset.
The Fourth Africa Climate Resilience Investment Summit (ACRIS IV) provides a platform for governments, civil society, international financial organisations and the private sector to focus on climate resilient solutions and funding to harness action at scale. The Summit will convene a set of high-level expert panels to showcase priority areas of climate resilient investments. The backbone of ACRIS IV is the Africa Climate Resilient Investment Facility (AFRI-RES) Partnership - a joint initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Bank Group, and the African Development Bank (AfDB). With funding from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), AFRI-RES aims to strengthen the capacity of African policy makers, institutions, the private sector, project developers and various other potential beneficiaries, to integrate climate resilience into the planning, design, and implementation of investments in selected climate-sensitive sectors, particularly energy, water, transport, ecosystems and agriculture. The Facility’s activities include creating an open data platform, developing guidelines on how to integrate climate risks in key climate-sensitive sectors, and support outreach and dissemination to key African stakeholders to enhance capacity and collaboration. Collaborators include CR4D, Future Climate for Africa and other related initiatives in addition to the World Bank Group, African Union and ECA.
Harnessing the private sector and mobilizing public-private partnerships are key to unlocking delivery on climate resilient transport, renewable energies & hydro-energy, water systems, sustainable land management, smart agriculture & coastal management. The panel discussions at ACRIS IV will draw on practical experiences as well as pioneering and innovative approaches, in order to stimulate a deepening of partnerships and dialogue, to forge transformative action at scale. Most importantly, the Summit will provide real-time opportunities for personable interactions and networking between public and private sector organisations, to discuss potential areas of engagement. Networking opportunities will continue through well-resourced exhibition stands, highlighting tried and tested innovation. There will also be an Evening Reception and an Event Dinner.
Key Partners: African Union Commission (AUC), World Bank Group (WBG), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Main Sponsor: Nordic Development Fund (NDF) through the AFRI-RES (Africa Climate Resilient Investment Facility) Partnership.
Supporting Partner: The Global Center on Adaptation of the Netherlands.
The Summit will be chaired by Professor Jamal Saghir.
Leading private sector sponsors include:
Platinum Sponsor: Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).
Gold Sponsors: Oracle Construction and Engineering, Lekela, and Research for Community Access Partnership (ReCAP).
Silver sponsor: Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG).
Bronze Sponsors: European Investment Bank (EIB), Innovation Africa Limited, and Future Climate for Africa (FCFA).