The concept of an Africa Pavilion at COP was launched at COP17 in Durban, South Africa, following the decision by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government at its 16th Ordinary Session held in February 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

African regional organizations and partners jointly host an Africa Pavilion to provide a platform for discussion and ensure that Africa’s concerns and priorities are adequately considered during the climate change negotiation process. The Africa Pavilion provides space and a voice for Africa on climate change and development priorities. It is also a venue for networking of officials from Member States, as well as participants from policy, science and practice communities.  

In this regard, the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) host the Africa Pavilion at COP27. The Pavilion provides the space for Africa to meet and strategize to defend her common positions and interests at COP27. 

Theme: “Implementation of Climate Actions and Africa’s Responses for a Just and Sustainable Transition”

Africa Day is a key feature of Africa’s presence and participation at the various Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It started at COP17 and is organized by Africa’s principal regional institutions, namely: The African Union Commission (AUC), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB); and AUDA-NEPAD. This year’s Africa Day side event is organized by these institutions in collaboration with the Republic of Botswana.

Africa Day is a platform that brings together African Heads of State and Government, principals of regional institutions, ministers, researchers, leaders in the private sector and financial institutions, civil society organizations, development partners and various other stakeholders to (i) share common concerns and re-iterate Africa’s positions and requirements for a successful COP, (ii) highlight some of the key positions to strengthen Africa’s negotiations at the COP, (iii) dialogue and propose ways forward on key issues relating to climate change and Africa’s long term development challenges, and (iv) share key issues from the annual Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA) conference.

Objectives

The objective of the Africa Day Side Event aims to showcase Africa’s responses to Green Financing, Energy Transition, Agriculture and Food Systems, Green Recovery, Resilient Infrastructure and Circular Economy.

Specifically, it will highlight green financing facilities across the African continent aiming at catalyzing green, sustainable, environmental, and social investments; strengthening collaboration on adaptation across the continent; structuring and developing the capacity of Africa's private sector, including SMEs, to effectively engage in climate action and support the implementation of various green agendas across the continent. 

In terms of Agriculture and Food Systems, the event will highlight advances in creating resilient food systems and identify gaps where more concerted effort is needed. There are positive examples of countries and communities that are successfully implementing climate smart agriculture, improving soil health and focusing on nature-positive solutions, often through engaging with and supporting young people to become involved in agriculture. These case studies can serve as role models for others. Identifying the gaps where more work is needed can help direct investment and support to the places that need it most.

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A High-Level Event on the Margins of COP27
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
Date: 15 th November 2022
Time: 16:00 to 17:00 GMT+2

Access to affordable clean energy in Africa remains one of Africa’s biggest challenges. Africa still has a large share of the population (approximately 600 million) mainly within the Sub-Saharan Africa region that is still living without a reliable supply of electricity and (about 900 million) lack access to affordable modern cooking fuels. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, one of the key barriers to energy security in Africa is the absence of large markets that will enable economies of scale for investments.

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Co-organised by the AUC and IEA
9 November 2022, 15.00-16.30, Africa Pavilion

The Africa Union Commission (AUC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) propose to organise an event at COP27 to discuss critical energy issues facing Africa and mobilise efforts to ensure energy access, security and respond to climate change. The IEA in partnership with the AUC produced the Africa Energy Outlook launched in June 2022, which looks at possible pathways for Africa’s energy systems to evolve towards achieving African development goals, including universal access to modern and affordable energy services by 2030 and Nationally Determined Contributions.

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