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By Correspondent, South Korea –
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Green Climate Fund to Launch US$690 Million Africa Sovereign Climate Facility to Accelerate Climate-Resilient Development
With total financing of US$690 million, the ASCF is designed to help African countries address the growing impacts of climate change while advancing their economic development priorities.
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org ), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) today launched the Africa Sovereign Climate Facility (ASCF) at a signing ceremony in Korea, marking a significant step towards scaling up climate finance and accelerating low-carbon, climate-resilient development across Africa.
With total financing of US$690 million, the ASCF is designed to help African countries address the growing impacts of climate change while advancing their economic development priorities. By combining technical assistance, capacity building, and large-scale blended finance, the program will support governments in integrating climate considerations into national development planning and accelerating the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The program’s first phase will focus on Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, countries facing significant climate vulnerabilities, infrastructure deficits, and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Through an integrated, country-led approach, the ASCF will support interventions across critical sectors, including clean energy, health and well-being, food and water security, and climate-resilient infrastructure and the built environment.
Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said, “The infrastructure we build today must both power Africa’s growth and withstand the climate pressures of tomorrow. Through this partnership with GCF, we are combining concessional finance with AFC’s project development expertise and capital to help governments turn national priorities into reliable energy, stronger food and water systems, and resilient infrastructure. Success will be measured in businesses that keep producing, communities that are better protected, and jobs that are sustained. That is how climate finance becomes an investment in Africa’s lasting prosperity.”
Catherine Koffman, GCF Regional Director for Africa, said, “The Africa Sovereign Climate Facility will help Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria turn national climate priorities into investable projects in clean energy, resilient infrastructure, food systems, and water security. GCF’s USD 280 million is designed to work alongside substantial co-financing, reaching an estimated 4.5 million people and avoiding 3.4 million tonnes of emissions. This partnership shows how blended finance can strengthen sovereign investment systems and deliver climate capital at scale.”
The launch builds on AFC’s longstanding partnership with GCF to mobilize climate finance and advance sustainable infrastructure development across Africa. In 2023, GCF committed US$253 million to AFC Capital Partners’ Infrastructure Climate Resilient Fund (ICRF), supporting the development of climate-resilient infrastructure as an investable asset class and helping catalyze additional investment from institutional and private-sector investors. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to using innovative financing structures to address Africa’s infrastructure needs while strengthening resilience to climate change.
As part of its participation in the ASCF, AFC will arrange and fully fund a parallel commercial facility of up to US$260 million, with a tenor of up to 10 years, for Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria through their respective Ministries of Finance. The facility will complement concessional climate financing, expanding the capital available to support eligible investments while helping participating governments integrate climate resilience and low-carbon development into national planning.
Over its lifetime, the ASCF is expected to reduce, avoid, remove, or sequester approximately 3.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) in greenhouse gas emissions. The program is also expected to reach 4.5 million beneficiaries through climate adaptation interventions, equivalent to the current estimated population of Cape Town, South Africa.
Africa remains particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, with rising temperatures, increasingly unpredictable rainfall, and more frequent extreme weather events threatening livelihoods, food and water security, infrastructure, and economic productivity. Rapid population growth and urbanization are adding further pressure on public services and infrastructure systems, reinforcing the urgency of embedding climate resilience into the continent’s development trajectory.
The ASCF aims to strengthen the link between national climate priorities and investable infrastructure opportunities, helping participating countries move beyond incremental responses towards more coordinated and transformational climate action. Its integrated financing model is designed to mobilize additional concessional and commercial capital alongside technical assistance and capacity building, addressing barriers to investment and supporting projects capable of delivering climate and development benefits at scale.
The launch reinforces AFC’s commitment to mobilizing capital and deploying innovative financing solutions to address Africa’s infrastructure needs while supporting sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient economic growth. Through its partnership with the Green Climate Fund, AFC aims to help bridge the gap between Africa’s climate ambitions and the financing required to translate those ambitions into tangible development outcomes.
