Strengthening the Implementation of Early Warning Systems

A decisive step in finalising the country’s NDC

For the effective implementation of NDCs

Background Nigeria is advancing a pilot carbon tax tailored to the telecommunications sector, a high-impact area due to its reliance on diesel-powered infrastructure to ensure network uptime. Building on feasibility work under the Ci-ACA (Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action) initiative, stakeholders have identified a carbon tax as a practical, near-term option to drive emissions reductions, complement Nigeria’s NDC targets and long-term low-emission development strategies. This validation workshop, organized by the Regional Collaboration Centre West and Central Africa is a milestone to review and confirm the pilot design elements, align on roles and responsibilities, and strengthen buy-in across government, regulators, telecom operators, and technical partners. Objectives Present the proposed design framework for a pilot carbon tax in the telecom sector (coverage, institutional setup, monitoring, reporting and verification requirements, and policy options). Validate stakeholder inputs gathered through prior consultations to ensure accuracy, representation and inclusivity. Confirm alignment with national climate policy, including the NDCs and LT-LEDS. Assess feasibility and readiness (timelines, roles, inter-agency coordination). Discuss revenue use/fiscal integration and safeguards to ensure equity and development co-benefits. Strengthen stakeholder ownership and agree next steps toward pilot implementation, including potential regulatory/legislative pathways. Reaffirm how carbon pricing can support international cooperation, transparency and climate finance opportunities. Expected outcomes Validation and endorsement of the proposed carbon tax framework for Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, including design elements and MRV requirements. Consensus on implementation pathways, institutional roles, and coordination mechanisms to operationalize the pilot. Strengthened stakeholder ownership and commitment to ensure inclusivity, transparency, and long-term sustainability. Identification of capacity-building needs and support measures to enable effective compliance and adaptive implementation. Target audience Telecommunications industry, government and regulators, Non-Corporate Communication Channels (NCCCs), sector regulators, revenue and standards agencies, competition/consumer protection, customs and statistics offices, policy entities, communications and digital economy, finance, planning, industry and trade, power, works and housing, transport, petroleum, energy and meteorology. Others: UNFCCC National Focal Point, academia, NGOs/CSOs, national experts and training institutes.

Contexte Les jeunes d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre sont au premier plan de l’action climatique. Ils mobilisent leurs communautés, développent des solutions innovantes et défendent des changements de politiques publiques. Malgré ce rôle essentiel et leur engagement, l’accès aux financements climatiques reste un obstacle majeur. Beaucoup d’organisations de jeunes font face à des défis structurels et financiers, comme le manque d’informations accessibles, la complexité des démarches ou encore des conditions d’éligibilité difficiles. Pour répondre à ces défis, cette troisième partie de la série de webinaires organisée par le Centre régional de collaboration d’ONU Climat pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre (RCC WACA) se concentre sur le thème “Jeunes et financement climatique”. L’objectif est d’explorer les opportunités et les défis liés au financement, et de mettre en avant des pistes pour renforcer l’accès des jeunes aux mécanismes de financement et d’investissement. Ce webinaire est co-organisé par RCC WACA, le PNUD, UNICEF WCARO,et YOUNGO. Objectifs Renforcer la capacité des jeunes de la région à accéder aux financements climatiques et à influencer les flux financiers. Mettre en évidence les obstacles actuels et proposer des solutions adaptées. Présenter des bonnes pratiques et des projets réussis portés par des jeunes. Faciliter le dialogue avec les gouvernements, fonds climatiques, fondations, secteur privé et partenaires techniques. Résultats attendus Plus grande sensibilisation aux opportunités de financement existantes. Recommandations concrètes pour améliorer l’accès des jeunes aux financements nationaux et internationaux. Identification de modèles réussis et de bonnes pratiques menées par les jeunes. Meilleur partage de ressources et d’expériences entre acteurs de la région. Public cible Organisations et entrepreneurs dirigés par des jeunes. Institutions financières climatiques (FVC, BOAD, BAD, etc.). Ministères de l’Environnement, des Finances et de la Jeunesse. Partenaires du système des Nations Unies, agences de développement et secteur privé. Universitaires et société civile. Important : Les personnes parlant espagnol ou portugais peuvent participer librement à l’une ou l’autre des deux sessions!

Background Young people in West and Central Africa are at the forefront of climate action, mobilizing communities, creating innovative solutions, and advocating for policy change. Yet, access to climate finance remains a major barrier for youth-led initiatives, limiting their ability to scale up and secure resources from national, regional, or international funds. This webinar, co-organized by UN Climate Change’s Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa (RCC WACA), UNDP, UNICEF WCARO, and YOUNGO, will explore the intersection of youth and climate finance. It will highlight challenges, present successful youth-led models, and open dialogue between youth and key stakeholders to co-design inclusive financial mechanisms. Objectives Strengthen youth capacities to access and influence climate finance flows. Highlight barriers and propose solutions for youth-led organizations. Share good practices and successful case studies. Facilitate dialogue with governments, climate funds, foundations, and the private sector. Expected Outcomes Increased awareness of available climate finance opportunities for youth. Clear recommendations to improve access to national and international funding. Identification of good practices and successful youth-led financing models. Strengthened resource-sharing and knowledge exchange across the region. Target Audience Youth-led organizations and entrepreneurs, government agencies, climate finance institutions, UN partners, development agencies, private sector actors, academia, and civil society.  Important: Spanish and Portuguese speakers are welcome to join either session at their convenience!

Country experiences integrating gender in NDCs

Access resources here

Background Africa’s urban population is projected to double by 2050, with cities in West and Central Africa such as Lagos and Kinshasa among the fastest-growing globally. This rapid expansion often outpaces infrastructure development and planning, leaving over 60% of urban dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa living in informal settlements. These conditions significantly heighten vulnerability to climate-related disasters like floods, droughts, and extreme heat. West and Central Africa face these challenges acutely, compounded by poverty, conflict, and governance gaps. Addressing them requires urgent, coordinated action. This webinar will serve as a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and partnership-building to advance scalable, context-specific solutions that protect urban lives and livelihoods. With over 400 million people expected to live in the region’s cities by 2050, there is no time to waste in shaping a resilient and sustainable future. This webinar is organized by the West Africa Capitals Coalition Hub (WACCH), a collaborative network dedicated to advancing sustainable development and climate action across West African capitals, convened by the Natural Eco Capital, and in collaboration with the Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa (RCC WACA). Objectives The objectives of this webinar are the following: Discuss key challenges facing urban development in West and Central Africa, including climate adaptation, infrastructure, and social equity. Highlight successful case studies and best practices in sustainable city planning. Foster collaboration among stakeholders to drive action-oriented solutions. Explore innovative approaches, including smart cities and sustainable financing models. Target Audience Urban planners and city administrators Private sector and development partners Environmental and climate experts Policymakers and government officials Academics and researchers Expected Outcomes Strengthened regional discourse on urban resilience Practical strategies for sustainable urban development Enhanced collaboration among experts, policymakers, and stakeholders

Le Centre régional de collaboration pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre (RCC WAC Africa) organise le deuxième webinaire de sa série « Youth Climate Action » le 15 juillet 2025.

Background The UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa (RCC WAC Africa) is hosting the second session in its Youth Climate Action Webinar Series on 15 July 2025. This interactive webinar will strengthen young people's understanding of international climate negotiations and UNFCCC processes, empowering them to participate meaningfully in global climate governance. Sessions will be held in English and French, featuring expert presentations, youth-led discussions, and opportunities to learn about pathways for youth engagement in the UNFCCC process. Objective of the webinar The webinar aims to introduce young people in West and Central Africa to the structure, processes, and current dynamics of international climate negotiations under the UNFCCC, enhancing their ability to engage, advocate, and contribute effectively. It will provide an overview of the UNFCCC and its key negotiation tracks, explain the role of different stakeholders, and highlight how youth can get involved through platforms like YOUNGO. Target audience Young climate leaders, students, emerging youth negotiators, members of youth organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions aged 18–35 from West and Central Africa.

(Voir la version en français ci-dessous) The UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa (RCC WAC Africa), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED), is organizing a three-day workshop (7-9 July) to validate the findings of a feasibility study on carbon pricing and initiate the collaborative design of a pilot carbon pricing instrument tailored to Cameroon. This three-day workshop will bring together stakeholders from across Cameroon’s climate, energy, and industrial sectors to validate the findings of a feasibility study on carbon pricing instruments and kick off the design phase for a pilot carbon pricing instrument. The event is part of Cameroon’s broader efforts to enhance its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and promote low-carbon development through economic instruments. Objectives: Present and validate the findings of the national feasibility study on carbon pricing. Strengthen stakeholders’ understanding of carbon pricing instruments or tools. Kickstart the collaborative design of a pilot carbon pricing instrument tailored to Cameroon’s emission profile. Discuss MRV systems, revenue use, and alignment with national climate and development goals. Outline a stakeholder-endorsed roadmap for next steps.   (Français) Le Centre régional de collaboration pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et l’Afrique centrale de la CCNUCC (RCC WAC Africa), en partenariat avec le Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Protection de la Nature et du Développement Durable (MINEPDED), organise un atelier de trois jours (du 7 au 9 juillet) visant à valider les résultats de l’étude de faisabilité des instruments de la tarification carbone et le lancement de la conception collaborative d’un instrument pilote de tarification carbone adapté au profil d’émissions du Cameroun. Cet atelier de trois jours réunira des parties prenantes des secteurs du climat, de l’énergie et de l’industrie du Cameroun pour valider les résultats de l’étude de faisabilité sur les instruments de tarification carbone et amorcer la phase de conception d’un instrument de tarification carbone. Cet événement s’inscrit dans le cadre des efforts plus larges du Cameroun pour la mise en oeuvre de ses Contributions déterminées au niveau national (CDN) et la promotion d’un développement à faibles émissions grâce à des instruments économiques. Objectifs : Présenter et valider les résultats du rapport d’étude de faisabilité sur la tarification carbone. Renforcer la compréhension des parties prenantes sur les instruments de tarification carbone. Lancer la conception collaborative d’un instrument pilote de tarification carbone adaptée au profil d’émissions du Cameroun. Discuter des systèmes de Mesure, Notification et Vérification (MNV), de l’utilisation des recettes et de l’alignement avec les objectifs climatiques et de développement nationaux. Définir une feuille de route approuvée par les parties prenantes pour les prochaines étapes.

To support countries in West and Central Africa in advancing their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) by the 2025 milestone, the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa, in collaboration with the NAP Global Network, is hosting a regional webinar focused on sharing best practices in NAP formulation and implementation.

The UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa, in collaboration with the Government of Togo, is organizing a two-day in-country workshop to advance the development of a national framework and operating manual for the implementation of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.

RCC WACA's regional webinar on fast tracking decarbonisation in heavy industry in West and central Africa.

RCC WACA in collaboration with RCC EASA held a regional webinar on fast tracking decarbonisation in heavy industry in Africa

Get a glimpse of RCC WACA's achievements in 2024

Regional Webinar on GHG Emissions Projection

Youth Solutions Shaping and Implementing National Climate Policies in West and Central Africa

Solutions des jeunes qui façonnent et mettent en œuvre les politiques climatiques nationales en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre

Adaptation and Resilience in West and Central Africa

RCC WACA supports pilot carbon tax in Nigeria

RCC WACA unpacks COP29 outcomes on Article 6 and their implications for implementation in West and Central Africa.

The side event aims to showcase two initiatives of RCC WAC Africa designed to support NDC 3.0 preparation, explore opportunities for enhancing NDC achievement through Article 6 and carbon pricing, and NDC tracking to ensure transparency and effective implementation of countries' NDCs under the Paris Agreement in West and Central Africa.

RCC WACA hosts the regional workshop for West and Central Africa

RCC WACA has published a new report.

Building key stakeholder's capacity to understand carbon pricing and make decisions

RCC WACA provided targeted technical support to African countries.

Support to African countries in the development of LT-LEDS.

RCC WAC Africa hosts a webinar on Thursday 22 August on the topic.

This webinar informs on how policies and strategies can address young African countries' needs.

RCC WAC Africa will host a regional webinar to support the development of NDCs on 25 June.

The 2023 RCC Annual Report is out: check out the RCCs' achievements per region!

RCC West and Central Africa and the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub (ReCATH) for countries in the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) organized a training workshop for environmental lawyers and the Constitutive General Assembly of the Network of Environmental Lawyers Experts of Central Africa (REJEAC). The training workshop aimed to enable lawyers to acquire a basic knowledge of multilateral environmental agreements and their implications at the national level, exchange national experiences, and advance harmonization of member states' legislation. Summary Africa has vast regions rich with natural resources. There is an urgent need to sustainably manage these resources as the continent grows in line with national and global goals. Realizing the vision of a green economy requires legal experts equipped to navigate a complex web of environmental laws and regulations. RCC WAC Africa, the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa, co-organized a workshop on multilateral environmental agreements to inform and engage Africa’s legal community.  The workshop engaged the Environmental Lawyers and the Constitutive General Assembly of the Network of Environmental Lawyers Experts of Central Africa (REJEAC) in Kigali, Rwanda, from 30 April to 3 May 2024. Effective implementation of international agreements in Africa requires legal, regulatory and institutional reforms, all of which are tied to legal expertise. The workshop equipped African environmental legal negotiators with in-depth knowledge of multilateral environmental agreements.  Discussions focused on the three Rio Conventions—UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCDand fostered an exchange of national experiences and a conversation on the urgent need to harmonize legislation across Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) members.  RCC WAC Africa held the workshop on-site supported by the secretariat Legal affairs division online. The team facilitated and presented the UNFCCC rules of procedure, the Framework Convention, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement. Discussions focused on the NDCs and Article 6.   The event culminated with the launch of a network of environmental lawyers in central Africa, which aims to support countries in preparing and participating in UN Climate Change negotiations and implementating the Paris Agreement. The event also established a bureau and drafted a roadmap to guide the network's operations, including a strong capacity-building component. The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Environment, offered to host the Network. This offer and the roadmap were adopted unanimously.   Co-organizers of this meeting included ECCAS – through the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub for Central African States, Legal Response International and the Africa Group of Negotiators Expert Support.  

The RCCs in Africa and our partners held a stakeholder validation workshop for the recent Africa LT-LEDS Landscape Study. The workshop opened an opportunity for countries, experts and other stakeholders to provide feedback and advance a comprehensive strategy that can enhance the capacity of African countries to align LT-LEDS and NDCs. The Regional Collaboration Centres serving East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, and Middle East and North Africa partnered with the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) and Climate Analytics to conduct a study on understanding the Long Term Low Emission Development Strategies landscape across Africa. The main objective of the study was to establish the state of play, challenges, and opportunities to enhance the development of LT-LEDS across the continent. Additionally, the study sought to identify best practices that would inform development of a guide that countries can use while elaborating LT-LEDS.   

RCC EAS Africa and RCC WAC Africa mobilize regional partners for the NDCs 3.0   In late March 2024, RCC East and Southern Africa and RCC West and Central Africa teamed up to bring together more than 10 partners in the region to connect countries with support for the NDCs 3.0. This meeting was convened as part of a global series of partner meetings to develop ambitious NDCs by early 2025. Connecting governments with support for NDC development can increase confidence needed to make bold commitments and accelerate implementation.      Background The 2025 NDCs, or NDCs 3.0, are to be prepared with a timeframe for implementation till 2035. All Parties are required to submit their NDC 3.0, latest by February 2025, in order to allow for sufficient time for the preparation of the compilation and synthesis report in advance of CMA7 (November 2025). NDC 3.0 are expected to be a progression beyond previous NDCs and should reflect the highest possible ambition. The NDCs 3.0 will determine to a large extent whether the world will get back on a global GHG emissions trajectory that is in line with the 1.5C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement and whether countries will build up the resilience for such a scenario. Ideally, the next NDCs should not only be ambitious in terms of numbers on paper. They should also help to accelerate implementation, unlock finance, and be well positioned to credibly move the needle on climate action. Taking the above into account, the UNFCCC secretariat plans to coordinate with key partners to ensure coordinated support for the Parties to deliver the 2025 NDCs. To launch this effort the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat is convening a meeting to bring together key organizations to jointly lay the ground to ensure NDCs 3.0 are fit for purpose, will accelerate implementation of climate action, will unlock finance and will be well positioned to credibly move the needle on climate action.   Meeting Objectives Provide an opportunity for regional development and implementing organizations to discuss approaches for increased cooperation and coordination in providing support towards the developing of ambitious and implementable NDCs by 2025 as a precursor to the webinar that was held with Parties from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM on the 26 March 2024.    Way forward RCC West and Central Africa and RCC East and Southern Africa together with NDC Partnership will map out the different support areas provided by partners to countries in the Sub-Saharan region, providing insight into where collaborations can be built, and identifying areas where there is a lack of support, both geographically and sectorally.  They will also establish a platform to capture ongoing activities and available support and make this accessible to all. This exercise will hope to ensure that consistent matchmaking support is available to countries in the region. RCC West and Central Africa and RCC East and Southern Africa will look into the integration of various climate action elements such as mitigation, adaptation, gender, loss and damage, etc., aiming to build unified support for the NDCs.

RCC hosted a series of webinars in preparation for NDC 3.0

Regional development and implementing organizations discuss approaches for increased cooperation and coordination in providing support towards developing NDC 3.0

A study on the current situation and possible future of carbon pricing in the region

Central Africa is moving forward to establish a new regional alliance.

New study assessing carbon pricing solutions by sector in Nigeria

Identifying challenges, needs, and priorities of African countries to implement the ETF

Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategies event, ACW 2023

RCC WAC and EAS Africa hosted a Long-Term Low greenhouse gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) regional capacity-building workshop for Africa on 1 and 2 September 2023

RCC EAS and WAC Africa co-organized a workshop on the margins of the Africa Climate Week 2023.

UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centres will host a webinar series on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

This year's Africa Climate Week will take place from 4-8 September 2023 in Nairobi, hosted by the government of Kenya. ACW 2023 will be organized in parallel with the Africa Climate Summit on 4-6 September, also hosted by Kenya.

During each of the 2023 Climate Weeks, the UN Climate Change and its Regional Collaboration Centres will host Dialogues on Carbon Pricing, Article 6 Training, and DNA Forum

The Regional Collaboration Center for West and Central Africa (RCC WAC Africa) of the UNFCCC secretariat and the Federal Government of Nigeria organized a workshop on carbon pricing opportunities for Nigeria.   Workshop on Carbon Pricing Initiatives in Nigeria 05 July 2023 | Newton Park Hotel  | Abuja | Nigeria Capacity Building | National Event Click here for the Concept Note and Agenda of the workshop The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) of Nigeria with support from the UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa hosted a workshop on Carbon Pricing Initiatives in Abuja. The workshop discussed the social, economic, regulatory, legal, and institutional implications of different carbon pricing instruments such as carbon tax and Emission Trading Schemes under the Collaborative Instruments for Ambitious Climate Action (Ci-ACA) Initiative.  The workshop brought together 80 stakeholders from various national partner organizations to analyze and discuss the “Assessment of Carbon Pricing Initiatives in Nigeria” study meant to guide national policymakers determine carbon pricing approaches appropriate for Nigeria. The study was commissioned by the Government of Nigeria and RCC WAC Africa.  Moving forward, the NCCC will look at potential next steps and policy options for carbon pricing instruments suitable to Nigeria, including a corresponding national MRV system. RCC WAC Africa will continue to work with the Government of Nigeria and partners in the region to advance carbon pricing and other climate solutions  

ACW 2022 is a crucial step on the road to COP27 Africa Climate Week 2022 was held 29 August to 2 September in Gabon. ACW 2022 engages and empowers stakeholders to drive climate action across countries, communities and economies.   Turning Libreville, Gabon, into Africa's climate capitol for a week, ACW 2022 brought together more than 2,300 stakeholders for five days of discussion in more than 200 sessions, with many more joining through virtual participation. An ACW 2022 Output Report provides a record of engagement that can guide implementation of the Paris Agreement in Africa.   We invite all stakeholders to explore the ACW 2022 Output Report and watch the ACW 2022 Opening Ceremony and ACW 2022 Closing Ceremony here and listen in on the Ministerial Roundtable on Finance.    ACW 2022 Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Technical experts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recommended the adoption of the draft ECOWAS Climate Finance Access and Mobilization Strategy (the Strategy) at a meeting held in Accra, Ghana between the 26 and 27 April 2022.

Mr. Damien Mama is the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) for Togo. He shares information about his role as UNRC, his view on climate change challenges in Togo and the support the UN system is providing to the country towards meeting the goals of the Paris agreement.

The Alliance is a sub-regional initiative and anchored in institutions that already serve the West African region with regard to carbon markets, technology transfer and climate finance.

The Secretariat of the United Nations Regional Working Group on Climate Change, Environment, Security and Development in West Africa (UN-CCESD) organized its first virtual thematic meeting on Wednesday 14 July 2021 under the topic: “COP 26 and its implications for West Africa”. Over eighty (80) participants representing several UN agencies in West Africa as well as the ECOWAS Commission attended the two-hour long meeting, which was opened by Mr. Leko Moussa, Acting Director of ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Environment & Natural Resources.

On Thursday 10 June, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in partnership with the West and Central Africa Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Regional Collaboration Centre of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), launched a UN Regional Working Group on climate change, environment, security and development in West Africa.