A decade after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C, African nations are intensifying their efforts to ensure accountability and progress in meeting their climate commitments. In a landmark move, the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), in collaboration with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the West African Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI), has launched Africa’s first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Index. This innovative diagnostic tool enables countries to systematically track their progress in achieving their climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
Supported by the African Development Bank’s Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), the initiative currently covers 12 Sub-Saharan African countries, including Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The NDC Implementation Index assesses performance across five key pillars: governance, finance and technology transfer, adaptation, mitigation, and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). A complementary online platform has also been launched, allowing stakeholders to monitor and compare national progress in climate action across the continent.
According to Rita Effah, ACCF Coordinator at the African Development Bank, the project is critical as countries prepare their next round of NDCs. By providing independent assessments and highlighting gaps, the Index will help nations establish realistic, evidence-based climate targets under the forthcoming NDC 3.0 framework. The initiative also prioritizes capacity building, offering training for government officials and climate officers in data collection, evaluation, and reporting. Additionally, 72 “climate champions” from research institutions and civil society are being trained to support governments in aligning national datasets with NDC objectives.
Aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 on Climate Action, this programme strengthens transparency and accountability in climate governance across Africa. Although some countries continue to face challenges related to data infrastructure and long-term climate planning, the initiative represents a significant advancement in regional cooperation and evidence-based climate monitoring. Looking ahead, the project’s partners plan to expand the platform beyond the initial 12 countries, paving the way for a continent-wide system to track and enhance Africa’s collective climate action efforts.
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