Regional leaders met in Nairobi from January 27–29, 2026, to accelerate the activation of the Congo Basin Blue Fund (F2BC), a sovereign financial instrument designed to protect the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest.
Leaders finalized 43 investment-ready flagship projects spanning climate-smart agriculture, forestry, energy, and resilient infrastructure.
The commission established a target of raising an initial $400 million toward a broader $2 billion goal over the next two years to support projects across 17 member states.
Kenya’s Environment CS, Dr. Deborah Barasa, emphasized aligning regional priorities with commitments from the UN Climate Summit (COP30) in Brazil, including the $2.5 billion pledged for the Congo Basin.
The meeting served as a precursor to a high-level Donors’ Roundtable scheduled for May 2026 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, coinciding with the African Development Bank Group’s annual meetings.
A high-level summit is planned for April 26, 2026, in Nairobi for official approval of the resource mobilization strategy.
The gathering follows criticisms of “sluggish and overly bureaucratic” capital flows from developed nations, with leaders advocating for the Blue Fund’s direct funding model to bypass traditional bottlenecks.
By Anthony Solly
