Context
As environmental crises become increasingly interlinked - climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss- it is more important than ever to promote integrated approaches under the three Rio Conventions:
- the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
- the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and
- the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
For African countries, the need for synergy is particularly urgent, as they face disproportionate environmental vulnerabilities and resource constraints. Building coherent strategies across these three conventions can unlock greater impact, efficiency, and access to resources for national and local implementation.
This session, organized under the Rio Conventions Joint Capacity Building Programme, in collaboration with the African Development Bank, the NDC Partnership and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, will serve as a platform to:
- emphasize the importance of synergies in national planning, project design and investments,
- openly discuss key barriers to effective coordination, and
- co-develop practical solutions for capacity building, technical assistance, and financing.
This dialogue will also support strategic thinking ahead of the UNFCCC COP 30 in Belém, helping to shape a roadmap that places national synergy-building at the heart of implementation, financing, and investments.
Key objectives
- Raise awareness on the importance of synergistic implementation of the Rio Conventions for greater national and local impact in Africa.
- Highlight good practices and success stories of integrated planning, project development and financing across climate, land, and biodiversity agendas.
- Identify key challenges that countries face in building and operationalizing synergies across sectors and institutions.
- Co-develop ideas and solutions for enhanced capacity building, targeted technical assistance, and innovative financing approaches fostering synergies.
- Mobilize partnerships to support African countries in advancing coherent Rio Convention implementation strategies on the road to Belém and beyond.
Proposed agenda (90 minutes)
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Time (11:00-12:30)
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Duration
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Item
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Details
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11:00 – 11:10
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10 min
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Opening remarks
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By representatives from the Rio Conventions Joint Capacity Building Programme and the African Development Bank.
Introduction to the session’s objectives and importance.
Speakers :
- Alejandro Kilpatrick, UNFCCC secretariat
- Dr. Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, AfDB
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11:10 – 11:25
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15 min
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Keynote presentation: “Why synergies matter and how they deliver impacts”
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Focus on benefits of integrated approaches in national planning and financing.
Speaker : Alejandro Kilpatrick, UNFCCC secretariat
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11:25 – 12:05
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40 min
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Panel discussion: Country perspectives and lessons from Africa
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3–4 speakers from African countries and institutions share practical experiences with synergy-building, highlighting successes and persistent challenges (5 min each), followed by moderated Q&A.
Speakers:
- Joaquim Leite, NDC Partnership
- Onesimus Muhwezi, UNDP
- Satishkumar Belliethathan, NABU - Africa Regional Office
- Hafsa Omar Abdilahi, Director of Climate Change and UNFCCC Focal Point of Somalia
- Patience Gandiwa, Director International Conservation Affairs, Zimbabwe
-Josefina Kakololo, Chief Conservation Scientist, Climate Change Unit, Namibia
Key questions to be addressed by panelists:
· What do you see as the main levers to strengthen synergies between climate, biodiversity, and land degradation agendas in the African context?
· Could you share a concrete example of success in integrated planning or financing from your country or institution?
· What priority solutions would you recommend to overcome current barriers in coordination, technical capacity, financing and investments for synergies?
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12:05 – 12:20
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15 min
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Interactive dialogue: Overcoming barriers, building solutions
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Moderated discussion with audience input. Focus on solutions related to technical support, capacity development, and financing for synergistic implementation.
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12:20 – 12:30
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10 min
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Closing reflections and way forward to Belém
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Summary of key messages and ideas for future collaboration.
Closing remarks by representatives of the Rio Conventions Joint Capacity Building Programme and the African Development Bank.
Speakers :
Alejandro Kilpatrick, UNFCCC secretariat
Dr. Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, AfDB
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