Studies

Helping Sub-Saharan African cities access funding to deliver local climate and energy action plans

Sub-Saharan African cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Rapid urbanisation has increased their exposure to climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, signatories of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) are developing Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs). These plans aim to foster low-carbon, resilient development while ensuring access to sustainable energy. 

However, limited access to climate finance remains a major hurdle. Many local governments lack the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the complex landscape of climate-related funding. A new publication addresses this gap by mapping out available financing instruments, eligibility criteria, and technical considerations tailored to Sub-Saharan cities. 

While a range of climate finance sources exists, most are not directly accessible to local authorities, often requiring intermediaries such as national governments or development banks. To close this gap, national institutions must improve coordination, provide direct financial support, and create enabling environments for private investment. Mechanisms like Subnational Development Banks and dedicated national climate funds are also key to improving financial flows at the local level. 

Development partners and the international community play a critical role by offering technical assistance for project planning, design, and implementation. With stronger multilevel cooperation, cities across the region can increase their access to climate finance and accelerate the delivery of their SEACAPs, driving both climate resilience and sustainable development. 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact:  

BIZARRO Pedro

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

Lessons from the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa on energy, adaptation and resilience 

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) is a landmark initiative launched by the European Union in 2015 to strengthen local governments’ response to climate change, promote access to clean energy, and build long-term urban resilience. With over 200 signatory cities and a strong support network of partners, the initiative has empowered local authorities to develop Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs) based on their own priorities and challenges. 

At a concluding workshop held in Cape Town, participants from pilot cities, non-funded signatories, and local experts gathered to reflect on their experiences, share lessons learned, and chart the way forward for climate action at the local level. 

A bottom-up approach to climate action 
The CoM SSA approach is rooted in the understanding that cities, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, are uniquely positioned to implement climate policies that are both ambitious and inclusive. Through support in planning, training, technical assistance and data collection, cities were equipped to address three central themes: mitigation, adaptation and access to affordable energy. 

Energy access remains one of the region’s most pressing challenges, with only 32% of the population having access to electricity. Yet despite low carbon emissions compared to global averages, African cities are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This makes the integration of climate and development priorities not only desirable, but essential. 

Key lessons from the ground 
The workshop highlighted a set of practical insights for future projects: 

• Climate planning must be institutionalised across all levels of government to ensure continuity and avoid fragmentation. 
• Political backing is vital: champions within local councils can significantly boost project success. 
• Data collection is fundamental, but often difficult. Cities need targeted support to overcome technical and bureaucratic hurdles. 
• Stakeholder inclusion, especially at the early stages, is key to making plans locally relevant and actionable. 
• Behaviour change within institutions and communities is as important as infrastructure investment. 
• Training local officials and developing tailored communication strategies are essential to securing long-term buy-in. 
• Journalists and the media can play a crucial role in building public understanding, but they also need to be supported and trained. 

The transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient cities in Sub-Saharan Africa is urgent, and the CoM SSA programme has laid a solid foundation for this transformation. However, participating cities stressed that they are not ready to continue alone. Continued support for capacity-building, funding, and guidance through the next phases of SEACAP implementation is essential. 

To meet global climate goals and reduce inequality, both bottom-up and top-down approaches must work together. Local governments need stronger backing from national authorities and the international community to bridge the gap between policy ambition and service delivery. 

Ultimately, the experience of CoM SSA cities shows that climate action in Africa must be collaborative, context-specific, and inclusive, because the future of climate resilience lies in empowering those who are closest to the challenge. 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact: 

BIZARRO Pedro

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

New guide helps African cities unlock funding to implement their sustainable energy and climate plans 

As cities across Sub-Saharan Africa face mounting climate threats, they are also increasingly expected to lead the response. Rapid urbanisation, vulnerability to extreme weather, and growing emissions underscore the urgent need for robust local climate action. Yet financing remains a critical hurdle. 

To address this, a new publication supported by the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) offers a practical overview of climate finance options available to local governments. It focuses on helping cities develop and implement their Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs), a cornerstone of the CoM SSA initiative. 

While numerous funding mechanisms and instruments exist, from global climate funds to development grants and blended finance models, many remain inaccessible to local authorities. Complex application processes, lack of technical capacity, and a mismatch between financing requirements and city realities are key barriers. 

The publication identifies actionable pathways forward. Among them: 

• Clearer guidance on eligibility and technical criteria for accessing major funding streams. 
• Support for project preparation, including technical assistance and capacity building. 
• The need for intermediary institutions, such as subnational development banks, to channel finance to the local level. 
• Improved national frameworks to enable direct municipal access to funds and attract private sector investment. 
• Community-based and innovative financing models, such as cooperatives, crowdfunding, and microfinance, to mobilise local capital. 

The guide also encourages governments and donors to strengthen partnerships with local authorities, recognising their key role in meeting national and global climate goals. 

Ultimately, the success of SEACAP implementation depends not only on access to finance but also on inclusive planning, local ownership, and sustained political will. Empowering cities with the tools and resources to act will be essential for climate resilience and sustainable development across the region. 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact: 

BIZARRO Pedro

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

Inclusive dialogues in Africa driving cooperation to strengthen and raise ambition of national climate commitments 

Urban areas contribute up to 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. Cities in Africa, already hotspots of climate risk, are therefore central to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Recognising this, the Cities and Regions Talanoa Dialogues have emerged as an innovative approach to align national, subnational, and international actors in raising climate ambition. 

The concept of Talanoa, originating in Pacific Island traditions, emphasises open, inclusive, and participatory dialogue. First introduced in the UNFCCC process at COP23, it provides a safe space for stakeholders to reflect, share experiences, and identify pathways forward. ICLEI, together with the Global Covenant of Mayors and UN-Habitat, launched the Cities and Regions Talanoa Dialogues in 2018 to bring this ethos into climate policy discussions. 

By the end of 2018, more than 60 dialogues in 40 countries were held, including eight in seven African countries, convening local leaders, youth organisations, investors, and development agencies. These dialogues addressed three guiding questions: 

1. Where are we? – assessing current national and local commitments. 

2. Where do we want to go? – linking climate action to SDGs and urban development policies. 

3. How do we get there? – identifying joint models for financing, governance, and implementation. 

In Africa, the Talanoa ethos resonated strongly. Participants pointed out similar local traditions of collective storytelling and decision-making, such as oxungt in Namibia. This cultural grounding reinforced the importance of making global frameworks relevant to local realities. 

Key lesson: for NDCs to be both credible and ambitious, regular multi-level engagement is essential. National governments must work hand in hand with municipalities, regional authorities, and civil society to mobilise the technical, financial, and policy resources required for implementation. 

The Talanoa Dialogues in Africa have shown that inclusive storytelling is not just a cultural tradition, it is a practical pathway to more ambitious climate action. 

Read the study here 

For more information, contact: 

BIZARRO Pedro

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development