19 February 2013: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reported that the ACP (Africa-Caribbean-Pacific) Group of States has granted €20 million to the special fund for the Climate for Development in Africa Programme (ClimDev-Africa). The grant will enable ClimDev-Africa to become operational.

ClimDev-Africa is a joint initiative of AfDB, the African Union (AU), and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and is administered by the Bank. According to AfDB, approximately US$30 million are required to make the fund operational.

AfDB reports that the Head of the joint Secretariat of the AU, AfDB and AEC, Ibrahima Dia, received, on 11 February 2013, a letter confirming the grant of €20 million for the fund from the Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States, Mohamed Ibn Chambas. This grant will enable it to make the fund operational and finance projects already in the pipeline in the field of climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Africa.

The ClimDev-Africa programme aims to explore actions required in overcoming climate information gaps, for analyses leading to adequate policies and decision making at all levels. [AfDB Press Release] [Clim-Dev Africa Website]