From 4-6 September 2023, more than 30,000 delegates congregated in Nairobi for the Africa Climate Summit, hosted by the Government of Kenya in collaboration with the African Union Commission. Participants at the summit and subsequent Africa Climate Week that took place from 6-8 September 2023 included global leaders, civil society groups, women and youth organizations, and private sector players from more than 200 countries across the globe.

The UNFPA delegation led by UNFPA Kenya Representative Anders Thomsen organized and participated in several sessions at the summit, with the goal of engaging stakeholders on gender-responsive climate action that prioritizes sexual and reproductive health and rights and the elimination of harmful practices against women and girls. UNFPA actively participated in seven events as key speakers, co-organizers, or panelists, advocating for climate action that embraces inclusivity, particularly for women, young people, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented populations.

In collaboration with the Executive Office of the President of Kenya and UNICEF, UNFPA convened a side event on African women and girls leading climate action. The discussion featured leading voices of young African women at the forefront of climate response initiatives, including Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Founder of the Green Protectors, Rwanda, Laurel Kivuyo, founder of Climate Hub Tanzania, and Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate.

“We need to consciously commit to education, training, and funding for young African women and girls. That is the only way to ensure they are strategically placed to lead climate action,” said Ms. Ineza.  The session also explored the intersectionality between gender, climate change, and affected vulnerable and marginalized groups and solutions towards gender-responsive climate action. 

In her keynote address,  H.E. Hajia Samira Bawumia Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana echoed Ms. Ineza’s sentiments. “We must identify and tailor climate finance solutions that also deliver progress on gender equality,” she said. “Let us advocate for financial backing that integrates sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as gender-based violence prevention and response in the face of climate adversity.”

In addition to supporting 30 young people from frontline communities in Kenya to participate in the Africa Climate Summit and Week, UNFPA partnered with Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to hold a session focused on enhancing meaningful youth participation in climate change policy processes. UNFPA Kenya Representative Anders Thomsen affirmed UNFPA’s commitment to supporting youth-led innovation and networks working on climate change adaptation responses, especially those related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as gender equality.

Other notable events organized by UNFPA included a session on climate impacts on women’s health in Africa, held during Africa Climate Week. UNFPA East and Southern Africa office Advocacy and Policy Analyst on Climate Change Chiangozie Udeh and Technical Lead on Climate Action and Population Dynamics Policy Advisor Dr. Angela Baschieri participated in various panels, speaking on gender and climate justice, and scaling youth access to climate finance. 

The Africa Climate Summit concluded with the Nairobi Declaration, calling for greater urgency in reducing emissions, climate-positive investments, and the acceleration of global decarbonization while highlighting equality and shared prosperity. The summit garnered approximately USD 26 billion in pledges from donor nations and multilateral organizations, towards climate investments.