Kenya successfully bid to host the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa in Nairobi.
Finalized by the GCF Board during its 44th meeting (B.44), held at GCF headquarters in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 25–28 March 2026, this decision comes at a time when the state of climate finance in Africa remains critically underfunded relative to needs, despite recent growth in flows.
In a statement, GCF Co-Chair Amb. Seyni Nafo of Mali said, “The decision on regional presence will bring the Fund even closer to the countries it serves.”
He was particularly delighted that there would be two locations for the African regional office, in Nairobi and Abidjan.
According to the Climate Policy Initiative report, climate finance flows to Africa have grown significantly in recent years, reaching an annual average of USD 43.7 billion in 2021/22, 48% increase from 2019/20, with flows surpassing USD 50 billion for the first time in 2022.
However, regional disparities are pronounced, with East and West Africa receiving the bulk of flows, while the most climate-vulnerable countries capture only a small fraction.
Moreover, current finance meets just 11–23% of Africa’s estimated annual climate needs of USD 190–277 billion through 2030, pointing to a massive and persistent financing gap that underscores the urgency of scaling up, diversifying, and restructuring climate finance across the continent.
Highlighting the significance of the milestone, GCF Executive Director Mafalda Duarte said, the approval of regional presence is a landmark moment for GCF.
“The selection of host cities for our regional offices will bring us closer to the countries that we serve, increasing impact and engagement. I would like to thank all 43 countries that expressed an interest in hosting a GCF office and reassure them that the decision on regional presence will strengthen our engagement across all countries,” he added.
Emerging as a regional climate leader following its successful bid that attracted 17 African countries, Kenyan officials and the State Department for Environment and Climate Change welcomed the outcome, noting it positions Nairobi as a strategic hub for climate finance in the region.
Dr. Pacifica Ogola, Director of Climate Change and a representative of the Africa Group of Negotiators on the GCF Board, was present at the meeting, reinforcing Kenya’s influence in global Climate finance decision-making.
