Stakeholders gathered in Abuja on May 12, 2026, for the launch of the INCLUDING-Africa project. This initiative aims to enhance climate finance systems and promote inclusive low-carbon development in West Africa.
The project lasts three years and is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). It’s a collaboration between the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, along with partners from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and the EfD Global Hub in Sweden.
During the event at The Envoy Hotel, researchers, policymakers, and financial experts discussed how to improve climate finance access, especially for vulnerable communities. Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, expressed strong support for the initiative, highlighting the urgency of tackling climate change in Africa.
Climate change poses a significant threat to the continent. According to Professor Nnaemeka Chukwuone, Project Team Leader, issues like flooding and droughts compromise food security and economic stability. He noted that West African countries receive only about seven percent of the climate funding they need by 2030. The gap is stark for countries like Nigeria and Ghana, which struggle with financing deficits each year.
Two major challenges include insufficient fiscal policies that respond to climate needs and limited access to financial resources for grassroots organizations and women-led businesses. The INCLUDING-Africa project will work on improving these systems by developing innovative financial tools and enhancing institutional capabilities.
Focused on Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal, the project will partner with various institutions, such as the Nigeria Conservation Foundation and the University of Ghana. Participants highlighted the need for climate finance systems that prioritize marginalized groups, including women and small businesses.
Researchers will use models and surveys to evaluate climate-related reforms and design financing instruments suited to local needs. They also plan to pilot-test these financial tools with 200 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
As this project unfolds, it aims to strengthen the region’s climate governance, enhance financing access for marginalized groups, and improve fiscal and policy frameworks. The implementation will span from 2026 to 2028, marking a crucial step towards a more inclusive and sustainable future in West Africa.
For more insights on climate finance in Africa, you can check out reports by the United Nations Environment Programme or other trusted sources.
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climate finance,INCLUDING-Africa project,REPRC-EfD Nigeria,University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN),West Africa
