"Africa Prepares for Climate Action Reporting: The African Development Bank trains 50 experts from 25 African countries to fast-track their Biennial Transparency Reports ahead of COP29.

The African Development Bank, in partnership with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat, hosted a workshop from September 9 to 11 in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop provided technical support to 42 national experts from 21 African countries, helping them prepare their first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) ahead of the December 31, 2024 submission deadline.

The BTR is a key reporting tool under the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), enabling countries to track and report their Climate actions, progress and needs.

In his opening remarks, the African Development Bank’s Director of Climate Change, Prof. Anthony Nyong, represented by Dr. Olufunso Somorin, highlighted the Bank's dedication to strengthening capacity across Africa. He emphasized that, under the Bank’s 2024-2033 strategy, a key priority is to facilitate the flow of climate finance to support climate initiatives across the continent. The Bank has already exceeded its climate finance allocation target, with 55% of all project approvals in 2023 directed toward climate-related initiatives, surpassing the initial goal of 40%. 

“This workshop is crucial in ensuring that African countries are prepared to meet the transparency requirements of the Paris Agreement,” he said, underscoring the significance of supporting countries in reporting their climate actions and securing funding.

Uzoamaka Nwamarah, Adviser on Climate Change at the Commonwealth Secretariat, highlighted the importance of these reports, stating, “This workshop comes at a critical time when all Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to submit their first BTRs and National Inventory Reports under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). The ETF is a cornerstone of accountability, ensuring that we can collectively track progress on national climate actions and our global goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures. The Commonwealth Secretariat, through our Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) and our Commonwealth NDC Programme, stands firm in our commitment to support African nations in this critical phase of implementing the Paris Agreement”.”

In a video message, Mukhtar Babayev, President-Designate of UNFCCC COP 29 and Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, emphasized the importance of transparency in climate action. He stated, "Transparency is the cornerstone of our collective efforts in addressing climate change. It is fundamental in building mutual trust and confidence among parties while also highlighting areas for progress."

He further added, "As the COP29 presidency, it is crucial for us to enhance both ambition and action to ensure meaningful progress in our fight against climate change."

Jigme Jigme, Manager of the Transparency Division at UNFCCC, stressed the relevance of this workshop in the run-up to COP29. He explained, “Preparing the BTR is about making sense of what is happening—or not happening—within countries. It provides a clear picture of progress, identifies gaps, and highlights opportunities for improvement.”

The Nairobi workshop is part of a broader initiative of the Africa NDC Hub aimed at training 104 climate experts across the continent. It follows a successful training session in Brazzaville, Congo, where 23 experts from  11 countries were trained and run parallel to another session in Lomé, Togo, which covers an additional 32 experts from 17 countries. These efforts underscore a collective commitment to ensuring African countries are fully prepared to meet the ETF’s transparency requirements and that none is left behind.

With the BTR deadline fast approaching and the next round of NDC submission drawing near, the workshop marks a significant step  in Africa’s climate journey, ensuring countries can effectively report their climate actions and secure the necessary resources for continued progress.