The African Development Bank Group has called for stronger collaboration and sustained coordination among global climate institutions to help developing countries deliver on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Speaking at the 5th Partners' Roundtable on NDC Implementation on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Dr Al Hamndou Dorsouma, Manager for Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank Group, noted that African countries had demonstrated significant ambition but lacked the resources required to implement their commitments.
"Africa's challenge is not ambition," he said. "What Africa needs is ever-stronger collaboration and reinforced coordination among institutions providing financial and technical assistance in support of NDCs across the continent."
The roundtable brought together development finance institutions, global climate funds, and the UN agencies to review financing and technical assistance pledges, assess private sector engagement, and identify ways to ensure climate finance reaches the most vulnerable communities.
In opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell, warned that the cost of inaction on climate change would far exceed the cost of action. He urged developed countries, multilateral development banks and the private sector to step up efforts. Stiell also noted that local governments have contributed 17% of adaptation solutions since the Paris Agreement.
"COP30 in Belém is not about counting how many NDCs have been submitted, but rather about assessing their effective implementation," he added.
Representatives from participating institutions reported progress and persistent challenges, including resource mobilisation, coordination shortfalls, institutional capacity gaps and difficulties in reaching vulnerable groups.
Pablo Vieira, Global Director of the NDC Partnership Support Unit, said about 101 countries that have submitted their NDCs had received partnership support. Jennifer Baumwoll, Head of Climate Strategies and Policies at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stressed the UN system's role in helping governments integrate NDCs into national budgeting processes while incorporating community priorities.
Despite institutional and financial constraints, 47 African countries have updated and submitted their NDCs, with 23 filing more ambitious versions ahead of COP30.
Dr Dorsouma said the African Development Bank Group prioritises supporting countries' transition from planning to investment. Through the Africa NDC Hub, the Bank has supported Uganda in assessing and formulating its NDC, Mozambique in strengthening institutions for its ten-year climate plan, Burkina Faso in preparing its NDC investment plan, and Ethiopia in developing bankable NDC projects and securing large-scale financing. More recently, Botswana, Gabon, Lesotho and Liberia received support to craft long-term climate visions to 2050, aligned with the Paris Agreement.
The Bank Group mobilised $5.5 billion in climate finance in 2024, with 56% dedicated to adaptation. Around 83% of the Bank's climate finance comes from its own resources, demonstrating strong internal commitment and significant leveraging potential. Dorsouma cited innovative tools such as the Climate Action Window, which raised $451 million in concessional financing -- 73% earmarked for adaptation -- enabling the mobilisation of $1.39 billion in co-financing for 39 projects in 31 countries.
The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), jointly implemented with the Global Centre on Adaptation, has mobilised $19 billion of the $25 billion targeted by end-2025. A total of $11.9 billion has already been deployed, reaching 60 million people. However, Dorsouma warned that private capital remains underutilised for adaptation efforts.
