This initiative is part of the AU-AIP multi-country GCF Readiness Project being implemented in fifteen (15) African countries, funded by the Green Climate Fund, and aligned with the African Union’s ambition to scale up climate finance and resilience at the continental level.
The African Union has made climate finance a strategic priority, recognizing that access to international resources—particularly through mechanisms like the GCF—is essential to achieving the continent’s goals in water security, biodiversity protection, and climate adaptation. The AU-AIP multi-country GCF Readiness Project embodies this ambition by strengthening national capacities and accelerating access to climate finance in several African countries, including Guinea.
A Structuring Workshop for Bankable Projects
Over three and a half days, nearly 30 participants from public institutions, the private sector, and civil society enhanced their skills to:
- understand the GCF investment criteria and project submission requirements.
- develop robust climate rationales and coherent financial models.
- integrate environmental and social safeguards (ESS), gender, and inclusion.
- draft concept notes tailored to the Guinean context, ready for refinement and submission.
In his address, GWP Africa’s Representative, Mr. Sidi COULIBALY, Acting Executive Secretary of GWP-WA, emphasized that “transforming climate ambitions into concrete investments is a demanding but essential process,” highlighting the importance of “a rigorous technical approach based on financial modeling tools, aligned results frameworks, and a coherent theory of change.”
For his part, the NDA-GCF Secretary, Mr Mamadou Oury Barry, stated that “climate finance should not be a privilege for a few, but a right for all countries facing the climate crisis,” calling for “investment in national capacity building, improved climate data quality, and the promotion of an inclusive approach involving communities, women, youth, and the private sector.”
A Practical and Collaborative Approach
Facilitated by GWP Africa, the workshop combined:
- theoretical modules on GCF architecture, investment criteria, co-financing mechanisms, and environmental and social safeguards.
- case studies and applied exercises on financial structuring, climate rationale, and theory of change development.
- group work on concrete projects aligned with national priorities, including financial modeling, gender and inclusion action plans, and results frameworks.
Next Steps
The next steps include the technical finalization and validation of concept notes, structuring engagement with the GCF for formal submission, and strengthening interinstitutional coordination around climate finance. In addition to this capacity building training, the project will also support the country to achieve accreditation of nominated entities as Direct Access Entities under the GCF; develop a Private Sector Engagement Strategy; Develop a Climate Resilient Water Investment Programme; and preparation of Concept Notes and pipeline line development for GCF and financing by other partners.
Guinea in Africa’s Climate Finance Ecosystem
This workshop marks a key milestone in Guinea’s national strategy to access climate finance. It reinforces the NDA’s role as a catalyst for inclusive, ambitious, and technically sound projects—while contributing to the continental vision of a resilient and sovereign Africa in the face of climate challenges.
