GCF Boss Pledges More Resources to Finance Africa Climate Action

Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Mafalda Duarte has pledged her commitment to expand collaboration with local communities for greater impact, mobilise more resources and funding contributions for African climate change.

Duarte made this commitment at an interactive session recently at the sideline of the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where she introduced herself and network with civil society organisations, (CSOs).

The interactive session was put together by Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st), a Nigerian-based advocacy led by Titi Akosa and the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).

The dialogue was aimed to create a platform for African non-state actors to engage, express concerns and contribute to aligning GCF strategies with Africa’s realities and the aspirations of communities at the frontlines of the climate change crisis.

At the event, held physically and virtually, Duarte lamented the lack of commensurate will to mobilise climate action revenues for Africa.

The GCF’s boss disclosed that she and her team would be doing all they could to mobilise resources and raise the GCF’s ambitions in terms of funding contributions.

According to Duarte, there is a $100 billion commitment from developed countries for some years to finance climate action in developing countries, but till date, no commensurate commitment.

‘It’s quite frustrating when contributions to climate finance are not forthcoming,” says Duarte.

She added: “When the pandemic hit, countries were able to mobilise resources. But when it comes to mobilising resources for climate action in developing countries, it’s a different story. But we have banks in these countries investing in fossil fuels and industrial agriculture.”

Responding to several issues and questions by CSOs, Duarte spoke on the need to get indigenous people involved directly in GCF projects, when asked about how they could be better represented.

She agreed that they were the custodians and stewards of their communities, and they would probably have more accumulated knowledge that the GCF accredited entities might not readily be aware of, stating that nothing prevented the GCF from providing resources through a very diverse set of stakeholders, including those closer to the communities.