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Zambia has entered a critical phase in regional climate diplomacy with its participation in high-level technical talks in Nairobi, where African states are laying the groundwork for a multi-billion-dollar climate financing drive for the Congo Basin and surrounding regions.
The country was among member states that attended the High-Level Technical Meeting of National Focal Points of the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC), which took place from January 27 to 29, 2026, under the framework of the Congo Basin Blue Fund.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, the meeting is focused on shaping the investment plan that will be presented to international donors later this year.
The Nairobi discussions form part of preparations for a ministerial donor roundtable scheduled for May 2026 in Congo Brazzaville, to be held on the margins of the African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings.
“Ahead of that, ministers responsible for environment and finance from CBCC member states are expected to meet on February 10, 2026, in Congo Brazzaville to refine financing priorities,” the statement read.
The process would culminate in a summit of Heads of State and Government on April 26, 2026, in Nairobi, where leaders are expected to consider approval of a regional resource mobilisation strategy aimed at raising an initial US$400 million toward a US$2 billion target over the next two years to support climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.
Zambia was represented at the Nairobi meeting by Abel Musumali, a member of the technical committee of the Congo Basin Blue Fund since 2020.
The Fund, which is managed by the Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC), is intended to finance climate-related projects in member states, including Zambia.
The Congo Basin Climate Commission is a specialised body of the African Union mandated to coordinate political and technical action on climate change while supporting socio-economic development.
Its membership spans Central, East and Southern Africa, bringing together countries from the Economic Community of Central African States and the East African Community.
The CBCC’s financing arm, the Congo Basin Blue Fund, was approved by the United Nations and the African Union in 2017.
Its legal and operational framework has since been strengthened through a series of agreements, including the adoption of its statutes in May 2024 and the appointment of BDEAC as its fiduciary manager.
With climate financing expected to play an increasingly decisive role in development planning across Africa, the outcomes of the Nairobi meeting are likely to influence how member states, including Zambia, position themselves to access funding for climate resilience and environmental protection initiatives.
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