UN Climate Change News, 3 June 2026 – UN Climate Change, in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda and international transparency partners, has completed the first centralized group review of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). The event combined the technical review of BTRs with hands-on training in the reporting tools of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), creating a collaborative format designed to strengthen both reporting quality and national capacity.
Held over six days in Kigali, the pilot initiative brought together national experts from four least developed countries (LDCs) – Burkina Faso, Malawi, Niger and Rwanda – alongside technical expert reviewers and partners, including the LDC Negotiating Group, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the CBIT Global Support Programme (GSP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A new approach to transparency support
As the first centralized group review for LDCs, the Kigali meeting introduced an innovative approach that integrates technical expert review with real-time peer learning and capacity-building.
Participants worked together to strengthen practical reporting skills, exchange experiences and learn directly from one another. The format was developed in response to requests from the participating countries for a more collaborative review model that reflects their national circumstances and needs.
Building on lessons from previous in-country and centralized reviews, the initiative aimed to address common challenges faced by LDCs, including limited technical capacity, data availability and institutional resources.
Speakers at the opening underscored that transparency is not only a reporting requirement under the Paris Agreement, but also a critical enabler of stronger climate action. Reliable, country-owned data helps governments track progress towards their national climate plans (NDCs), identify gaps, and inform policy and investment decisions.
Partnerships and South-South cooperation
The Kigali review highlighted the importance of sustained international support and strong national ownership in building durable transparency systems. It also demonstrated the value of South–South cooperation, with countries learning directly from each other’s experiences and solutions.
The event was made possible through close collaboration between UN Climate Change, the LDC Negotiating Group, and a wide range of technical partners, who provided expertise, training and financial support.
Looking ahead
By the end of the session, participating countries had advanced the technical review of their BTRs, strengthened their use of ETF reporting tools, and identified practical pathways to improve future submissions.
The experience in Kigali provides a model that could be replicated in future review cycles, particularly for other LDCs and small island developing States, reinforcing transparency as a cornerstone of effective climate action – linking data, policy and implementation under the Paris Agreement.
See the event’s photo gallery
