AfDB champions just transition leadership with new capacity building initiative

Joy Agwunobi

The African Development Bank (AfDB), with the support of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), has underscored its resolute dedication to fostering a just transition towards a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy across Africa.

The renewed commitment comes at a crucial moment, as the continent struggles with the ever-increasing challenges posed by climate change and strives to harness the transformative potential of renewable energy and sustainable development.

A capacity-building initiative, spearheaded by the AfDB and CIF, aims to equip African nations with the essential expertise and understanding necessary to navigate the socio-economic complexities of transitioning to cleaner economies.

The initiative focuses on ensuring a just and equitable shift to sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on addressing the challenges that can arise as countries pursue climate action.

Recently, senior policymakers from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Namibia came together in Nairobi for the final session of the Just Transition Planning Masterclass, emphasising the critical importance of the initiative for Africa’s sustainable development trajectory.

The Masterclass, a key component of the AfDB’s broader Just Transition mainstreaming initiative, aims to equip African countries with essential tools for planning an equitable transition, aligns with the AfDB’s Climate and Green Growth Strategic Framework (2021-2030), which targets the mobilisation of $25 billion by 2025 for climate action.

The final session of the Just Transition Planning Masterclass took place in Nairobi from 17 to 18 September 2024, convening a diverse and cross-disciplinary group of policymakers, civil society organisations, and technical experts from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Namibia.

The event provided a crucial opportunity for these key stakeholders to come together and engage in collaborative problem-solving, with a focus on developing implementable solutions that support the transition to sustainable, low-carbon economies across the continent.

Following four preparatory webinars that addressed the unique challenges and opportunities faced by each country, participants engaged in discussions about successful cases of just transition planning. They identified country-specific challenges, devised strategies to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the transition, and interacted with potential funders to explore financing options for just transition projects.

In his opening remark, Bubacarr Sankareh, lead advisor to the director-general for East Africa regional development and business delivery office, emphasised the initiative’s significance stating, “The transition toward clean and sustainable development will require transforming how we produce and consume energy, manage resources, and drive our economies.” 

According to Sankareh, these transformations will inevitably disrupt economies and livelihoods. He emphasised that a just transition is essential for addressing these disruptions to ensure that no one is left behind. 

“In Africa, the focus should not only be on minimising the negative impacts of climate action but also on maximising the development and prosperity that arise from these transformative efforts,”he added.

Sankareh further noted that the transition’s nature will differ between fossil fuel-dependent and non-fossil fuel-dependent countries, stressing the need for equitable access to the benefits of sustainable development while also addressing the associated costs.

Caroline Aguti, assistant commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, pointed out the importance of revising Uganda’s energy transition plan to incorporate social justice.

She urged development partners, including the AfDB, to continue supporting countries by establishing relevant funding mechanisms for just transition investments.

Meanwhile, Kidanua Abera Gizaw, Coordinator of the Bank’s Just Transition initiatives, stressed that effective just transition mainstreaming requires a cross-sectoral approach that incorporates consistent national, sectoral, and operational planning.

According to Gizaw, by targeting decision-makers across various sectors, the Masterclass aims to bridge these levels and seamlessly integrate just transition principles into sustainable development planning.