AGN Chair demands predictable finance as $7.6 million Urban Resilience Facility launches at COP31

The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) has launched a $7.6 million Urban Resilience Facility at COP31, highlighting the urgent need for predictable finance to safeguard African cities and vulnerable residents. AGN Chair, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between global climate commitments and local realities, particularly in informal settlements and underserved areas.

The Building Climate Resilience with Africa’s Urban Poor (BCRUP) Regional Readiness Project, backed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), aims to create a pipeline of bankable projects across 20 African pilot countries. The $10 billion 10-Year Implementation Plan outlines the need for $500 million per country to enhance urban resilience against hazards like flooding, extreme heat, water scarcity, and environmental degradation.

With a multi-institutional governance structure led by Kenya and Türkiye, the project seeks to strengthen national coordination, improve climate-risk data, and develop locally tailored adaptation plans. Dr. Amoah stressed that financing must transition from commitments to tangible improvements in urban resilience, urging delegates to move from promises to bankable projects that deliver measurable outcomes for vulnerable city dwellers.