The Africa
Adaptation Initiative (AAI) has announced an exciting opportunity for climate
finance professionals to join its flagship programme, the Adaptation Projects
Incubator for Africa (APIA). With financial support from the European Union,
the APIA Programme aims to build a pool of 125 high-level African climate
finance experts over three years (2024-2026). These experts will play a
critical role in designing, implementing, and monitoring adaptation projects
across the continent, helping to address the growing challenges posed by
climate change.
As part of this
initiative, AAI is launching a call for applications to recruit and train an
initial cohort of 40 African climate finance specialists. Selected candidates
will undergo a six-month intensive certified training programme, equipping them
with the technical expertise needed to support Direct Access Entities (DAEs),
governments, financial institutions, and other stakeholders in navigating
complex financing mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the
Adaptation Fund (AF).
The APIA
Programme is designed to strengthen Africa’s capacity to access and manage
climate finance, ensuring that adaptation projects are effectively implemented
to build resilience against the impacts of climate change. By establishing the
African Climate Finance Experts Group, AAI aims to create a network of highly
skilled professionals who can provide technical assistance and drive innovation
in climate adaptation efforts across the continent.
The initiative
is particularly focused on empowering African experts to take the lead in
shaping the continent’s climate resilience strategies. By leveraging local
expertise, AAI seeks to ensure that adaptation projects are tailored to the
unique needs and contexts of African communities, fostering sustainable
development and long-term resilience.
AAI is inviting
qualified candidates with at least eight years of professional experience,
including a minimum of five years in climate finance, to apply for this
transformative opportunity. The programme is open to African experts residing
both on and outside the continent, with a strong emphasis on encouraging female
candidates to participate.
The six-month
training programme will cover a wide range of topics, including project design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and the intricacies of
climate finance mechanisms. Upon completion, participants will be certified and
equipped to support DAEs and other stakeholders in accessing and managing
climate finance effectively.
Applications
must be submitted no later than March 11, 2025, at 23:59 GMT. Interested
candidates are encouraged to apply and seize this opportunity to contribute to
Africa’s climate resilience and sustainable development.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
