The CIF Global Knowledge Exchange 2026, hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 27 to 30 April 2026, brought together leaders, policymakers, development partners, private sector representatives, and practitioners to accelerate climate action through knowledge-sharing and partnerships. The meeting was organized by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, the African Development Bank Group, and the World Bank Group.
Here are five key takeaways:
1 The first-ever global CIF knowledge exchange
This was the first global knowledge exchange convened by CIF, building on the momentum of the Africa Knowledge Exchange held in Abidjan in 2023, led by the African Development Bank.
The 2026 gathering focused on how countries can transform systems to deliver both economic results and climate action. This four-day knowledge event convened more than 150 participants from 27 countries around the world to exchange practical experience on just energy transition, resilience, nature-based solutions, and inclusive climate finance.
Opening the event, Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, welcomed delegates to Addis Ababa and emphasized the importance of learning across countries:
"The climate crisis is global, but many of the most practical solutions are being developed in countries of the Global South."
Representing the African Development Bank Group, the Bank's Director-General for East Africa Alex Mubiru, highlighted continuity in the partnership and also stressed urgency in scaling climate finance:
"Africa, as the most vulnerable continent, is receiving a disproportionately small fraction of global climate finance. We need to rapidly increase investments in resilience to close the growing adaptation gap."
2 Fifteen years of partnership between CIF and the African Development Bank
The African Development Bank celebrates 15 years of partnership with CIF in advancing climate and development finance across Africa.
Over that period, CIF has combined concessional finance, innovation, and knowledge exchange to support transformational change across clean energy, adaptation, transport, forestry, and private sector investment.
To date, the Bank has approved 48 projects, leveraging around $1.1 billion in CIF resources, alongside approximately $2.5 billion in AfDB co-financing and about $9.2 billion from other sources. This brings total additional financing mobilised to around $11.7 billion, meaning that for every $1 invested by CIF, around $10 in additional finance has been mobilised.
To mark this milestone, CIF and the Bank will host a high-level session titled Africa Leading Climate Action: Investment, Partnerships, and the Road Ahead during the African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Brazzaville on Tuesday, 26 May, showcasing achievements and future opportunities to scale up climate finance.
3 Ethiopia showcases climate solutions on the ground ahead of COP32
The Knowledge Exchange highlighted key upcoming global climate milestones, including COP31 in Türkiye, where CIF and the African Development Bank Group will continue engaging with partners to advance climate finance, resilience, and energy transition priorities for developing countries.
At the same time, Ethiopia is preparing to host COP32, a landmark moment expected to bring Africa to the center of global climate decision-making.
During the opening session, Minister Ahmed Shide highlighted Ethiopia's climate leadership: "Our country has long placed climate action at the center of its development vision. Through our Climate-Resilient Green Economy approach, we are pursuing a development pathway that is green, inclusive, and resilient." He also emphasized the country's COP32 ambition: "To bring the world to Africa, and to place Africa at the heart of global climate action."
He outlined Ethiopia's priorities for COP32, including stronger adaptation finance, resilience investment, expanded energy access, nature-based solutions, and a climate finance architecture that better reflects developing country needs.
During the government session he also underlined the economic opportunity of climate action, noting that "low-carbon development is not a constraint--it is an opportunity." Ethiopia's transition was presented as a practical model combining renewable energy, sustainable industrialization, circular economy solutions, and green growth.
A key feature of the Knowledge Exchange was a dedicated field visit day, allowing participants to see climate solutions in action.
Participants visited industrial and clean cooking sites showcasing low-carbon and circular economy solutions, including plastic recycling, clean energy use, water recycling, sustainable transport, and technologies that can help decarbonize household energy use.Participants visited industrial sites showcasing low-carbon and circular economy solutions, including plastic recycling, clean energy use, water recycling, and sustainable transport.
Participants visited a nature-based restoration site along Addis Ababa's riverbanks, part of the Green Legacy Initiative, showcasing large-scale urban ecosystem restoration and climate resilience efforts.
4 You can only "ARISE when you are resilient"
A major announcement during the event was the launch of a call for expressions of interest under CIF's new Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE) program, designed to support country-led adaptation and resilience investments with greater strategic focus, stronger transformational intent, and clearer pathways to implementation.
ARISE will deploy catalytic finance to help countries turn climate risks into investment opportunities while strengthening fiscal resilience. CIF is making available a flexible envelope of $30 million to $40 million per country, and up to $50 million for regional programs, for up to five countries or regions.
Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO of Climate Investment Funds, stressed:
"Climate shocks are eroding trillions of dollars from the global economy, putting 2.4 billion livelihoods at risk. Resilience investments keep farmers harvesting, businesses open, jobs intact, and services running when shocks hit."
Mubiru, celebrated the announcement: "Today, Africa is showing that resilience can power innovation, strengthen economies, and protect communities. Through ARISE, we are building on this longstanding partnership to advance African-led solutions that accelerate sustainable prosperity across the continent."
The ARISE call remains open until 8 June 2026 and is expected to mobilize significant co-financing and private sector investment.
5 Gender, inclusive governance, and knowledge that works
Ensuring climate finance reaches communities, particularly women, youth, and civil society, and promoting inclusive participation are essential for legitimacy and long-term sustainability.
Cécile Ndjebet, President of the African Women's Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF), praised CIF's Dedicated Grant Mechanism as an impactful model that should be expanded to further include women, youth, and civil society organizations. Kidanua Gizaw, Climate Investment Funds Coordinator at the African Development Bank Group, noted that the mechanism helps connect national climate investment plans with community realities on the ground.
Sessions on inclusive country platforms further underscored the need for early and meaningful stakeholder participation in climate investment planning. Gareth Phillips, Manager of Climate and Environment Finance at the African Development Bank Group, stressed that embedding gender and social inclusion early in project preparation leads to stronger and more sustainable investment pipelines.
The event also featured a Knowledge Fair and an African Development Bank Group booth showcasing practical tools, climate finance instruments, and results from Bank-supported resilience and clean energy programs.
Throughout the week, discussions reinforced that inclusive design is not only a matter of equity, but also critical to building effective and bankable climate investments.
