Millions pledged at Africa adaptation acceleration event.

When Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was asked to make remarks at an event on Africa at the ongoing COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, she began by asking the jampacked audience to give a round of applause to Egypt and to Africa.

And then, holding her hands aloft to form a heart symbol, Ms. Georgieva declared: 'We pledge our heart to Africa.'

She was speaking at the Accelerating Adaptation in Africa event where the lovefest continued with each statement by the world leaders or their representatives, including one by the British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, who said he needed to make a public confession.

'My mother was from Sierra Leone,' he announced. 'Please forgive me if I maintain a personal interest in Africa.' He said his country was just as keen on Africa's development.

The event was not only about speeches; millions of dollars were pledged in support of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) - an Africa-led response initiative seeking to reduce climate change vulnerabilities through effective adaptation.

Pledges

The UK pledged APS200 (about $230 million) and is to triple its overall climate adaptation funding from APS500 million to APS1.5 billion by 2025.

The Netherlands will provide AAAP with $110 million.

Germany will increase its climate contribution to $6 billion a year by 2025. Nearly half the funding will be for adaptation, including in Africa.

Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal (also African Union Chair), Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, William Ruto of Kenya, Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Hassan Sheikh Mohamed of Somalia, were at the event.

So were Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, among others.

The backdrop is Africa's precarious climate change situation, worsened by the effects of the Ukraine conflict and COVID-19 pandemic.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) president, Akinwumi Adesina, reiterated the need for effective adaptation in Africa. Adequate financing for related projects was the recurring theme during the event.

Ms. Georgieva said 'Without support, Africa will not reach its potential. Each one of us must stand up and be counted.'

Mr. Cleverly of the UK maintained: 'We must deliver if Africa is to overcome climate change and fulfill its limitless potential.'

For Mr. Scholz, there was some urgency: He said 'Time is running out' for industrialised countries to meet their climate finance commitment of $100 billion...