Climate Focus has been a steering committee member and technical partner of the West African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance since its inception. In 2017, 16 West African countries created the Alliance to promote sub-regional cooperation and build institutional capacity for long-term engagement with international carbon markets and climate finance under the framework of the Paris Agreement (PA).
To achieve this vision, the Alliance:
1. Fosters active participation by West African delegates in the UNFCCC negotiations on market mechanisms, transparency and climate finance, thus ensuring that African priorities are reflected in the design of the new carbon market approaches under Article 6 of the PA;
2. Enhances in-country readiness for Article 6 implementation through the facilitation of capacity-building activities and the provision of hands-on advice on how to integrate Article 6 into national policy frameworks;
3. Supports the inception of mitigation activities in West Africa, including Article 6 pilot experiences, by creating a platform for member countries to connect with strategic partners of the Alliance, namely country governments, international financiers and technical experts.
The financial partner is the West African Development Bank (BOAD), in collaboration with the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Center Lomé (RCC Lomé). The structure includes the Coordinator and Secretariat at ARC Holding, and technical partners Afrique Énergie Environnement, Climate Focus, Perspectives Climate Group and AERA.
The Alliance is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
Visit the West African Alliance’s website to learn more.
