Addis Ababa, September 29 - October 1, 2025
The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) carried a strong message to the Regional Green Climate Fund (GCF) Dialogue with Africa, held in Addis Ababa from September 29 to October 1, 2025: climate action can only be sustainable and effective when it is rooted in national ownership and local leadership. Transparency, participation, and the involvement of communities from the very beginning are essential if climate responses are to endure.
This conviction is not theoretical but grounded in practice. Since its accreditation with the Adaptation Fund in 2013 and with the GCF in 2017, the OSS has consistently defended a participatory approach, insisting that climate projects only make sense when they reflect the priorities of the countries and communities in question. This principle took shape in 2018 during the OSS first call for proposals, which generated thirty-six (36) submissions from twenty countries. Each proposal conveyed local needs, and several were later developed into major projects, notably in Guinea-Bissau and Angola.
The experience in Angola’s Cunene region illustrates this philosophy. In an area severely affected by climate change, the CREW project was built by listening to the knowledge, priorities, and solutions of local stakeholders. Special attention was given to social inclusion, and the initiative created opportunities for women to advance their own projects, enabling them to become genuine actors of climate action. The use of the Project Preparation Facility (PPF), managed directly by the GCF, initially reduced the OSS capacity to conduct fully participatory consultations. Nevertheless, thanks to its presence in Angola through other initiatives, the OSS was able to maintain dialogue on the ground and sustain its relationship with the communities. This proximity proved decisive in ensuring both local ownership and project relevance.
Trust, in fact, was highlighted by the OSS in Addis Ababa as a central factor in climate action. Accredited entities must work constantly to preserve it, even if it is a hard task to achieve. Initial consultations raise high expectations, as communities express urgent needs and hope to see projects take shape quickly. However, the reality of lengthy approval processes, marked by repeated exchanges with evaluators, can delay implementation for several years. These delays are difficult to justify to populations already under pressure, and they gradually weaken the confidence that early engagement had built.
What sets the OSS apart is that its role goes well beyond managing funds. As an observatory, it supports its member countries in producing and managing environmental data, which allows it to remain close to their priorities at both national and local levels. This proximity fosters the co-creation of bankable initiatives, aligned with national strategies and firmly anchored in the realities of the field. The Addis meeting also gave the OSS the opportunity to organize bilateral and working sessions with country representatives, as well as with technical and financial partners. These exchanges helped review ongoing initiatives, identify synergies, and lay the foundation for future collaborations.
The lessons drawn from Addis Ababa reaffirm the importance of a simple truth: climate action is only successful when countries and communities are placed at its core. By listening, by building trust, and by ensuring genuine ownership, the OSS continues to transform global commitments into concrete results that strengthen resilience and support a sustainable future for Africa.