President William Ruto has stepped up continental efforts to strengthen climate resilience as Africa faces mounting climate-related risks, including prolonged droughts, destructive floods, and growing threats to food security and economic stability.

In a post shared on X on January 26, 2026, President Ruto said he convened a virtual Special Africa Leaders’ Meeting on Climate Adaptation that brought together heads of state, regional leaders, and international partners.

He underscored the urgency of coordinated action, stating: “Africa is stepping into its next phase of climate resilience. Leaders are aligning adaptation, development, and macro-economic stability to unlock resilient growth across the continent.”

The meeting focused on aligning climate adaptation with development priorities and economic stability, as African countries grapple with intensifying climate shocks that continue to disrupt livelihoods and public finances.

AAAP at the centre of adaptation drive

At the heart of the discussions was the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP), which President Ruto described as “the continent’s flagship platform to scale up climate adaptation while supporting jobs, food security, and public health.”

Launched in 2021, the programme is a joint initiative of the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, and the Global Centre on Adaptation.

President Ruto highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving the programme’s success.

“The programme is powered by a strong partnership between the African Union Commission, Africa Development Bank, and the Global Centre on Adaptation, bringing political leadership, finance and technical expertise together to accelerate adaptation at scale.”

He added that the approach is particularly relevant at a time of tightening fiscal space and rising climate risks, as it aligns adaptation investments with development finance to deliver economic recovery and sustainable growth.

Leaders call for scaled-up climate financing

The virtual meeting reaffirmed collective priorities, with President Ruto stressing the need “to mobilise concrete partnerships and scale up resilient financing across Africa.”

Among the leaders who joined the meeting were Presidents Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia) and Mohammed Al-Menfi (Libya), African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and former President of Senegal Macky Sall, who is also the chair of the Global Centre on Adaptation Supervisory Board.

The countries represented at the ministerial level included Ghana, Norway, Mauritius and France, among others.