African governments seek direct access to climate funds at the UN — Daily Maverick
African governments planned to seek direct access for African institutions to climate change adaptation funds during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. As Daily Maverick reports, they also advocate changes to the global financial system due to debt pressure, high borrowing costs and insufficient financing flows to developing countries.
Governments want adaptation funds to go directly to institutions on the continent rather than through intermediaries that may delay disbursements and impose additional conditions. Climate issues were among the key topics at this year's UN General Assembly, and a high-level meeting on sea-level rise took place on September 24.
Progress and financial barriers
The Africa Sustainable Development Report 2026, prepared by the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank and UNDP, recorded measurable progress on 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Improvements include water supply, energy, industrialization, sustainable cities and partnerships.
At the same time, the report noted that the pace and scale of change remain insufficient because of financing gaps, a lack of infrastructure, climate shocks, conflicts, rising debt-servicing costs and limited institutional capacity. The World Meteorological Organization warned that El Niño may continue until early 2027, increasing the risks of droughts, floods and population displacement in parts of Africa.
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Projects in East Africa
In Tanzania's Mwanza region, a farming system that combines maize and sunflower with trees, fruit, vegetables, grains and fodder crops is being expanded with a $2.9 million grant from a U.S. fund. Trees for the Future plans to support 2,780 smallholder farmers annually in 2026–2029 to restore soils, increase yields and help farms adapt to unpredictable rainfall.
In Gazi Bay on Kenya's southern coast, the Aga Khan Foundation and Portugal's Camões Institute are restoring 226 hectares of mangrove forests. About 65,000 seedlings have already been planted on six hectares. In Zanzibar, another project provides for the restoration of 3,300 hectares of mangrove forests and forests on coral soils across 16 community-managed areas.
The $200 million Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism is intended to channel financing for farmers' adaptation through commercial lending in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. The initiative was established by Equity Group and the International Fund for Agricultural Development at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali; it is designed to operate for 12 years.
