Kigali, Rwanda, 18 February 2026. Robust regional partnerships are central to mobilising climate finance at a scale that matches East Africa’s climate priorities. This message anchored discussions as senior government officials, climate finance experts, and development partners from across the East Africa region and beyond convene in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 7^th East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting (7^thEACFDLM). 

Held under the theme “From Frameworks to Action: Scaling up climate finance to advance NDC 3.0 ambitions,” the meeting, which kicks off this Wednesday, will focus on strengthening climate finance governance, integrating climate risks into public financial planning, and accelerating access to climate finance for climate action.

Mutesi Rusagara, the Minister of State for Resource Mobilization and Public Investments underscored the importance of strong collaboration and leadership in translating climate commitments into results and impact.

“Climate change is no longer a distant, future risk; it is a present-day reality that is actively reshaping our fiscal systems, our critical infrastructure needs, and our core social priorities here in East Africa. For Ministries of Finance, this demands a fundamental and urgent shift in perspective. We must move beyond viewing climate action as a sectoral or environmental issue and instead treat it as a core macroeconomic and development challenge that affects every part of our economies.

Ms Beatrice Jerono, an official from the East African Community, echoed the value of coordinated regional action in addressing the impacts of climate change across the region. 

The EAC Secretariat reaffirms its strong commitment to working hand in hand with our Partner States, Development Partners, and all stakeholders in mobilizing and utilizing climate finance to advance climate action in our region. Climate change remains one of the greatest threats to our economies, our communities, and our shared development aspirations. It requires not only ambition but coordinated, well‑resourced, and sustained action."

The EACFDLM reflects the region’s growing leadership in transforming climate ambition into institutional systems that deliver investment at scale. “Moving from frameworks to action requires not only technical solutions but coordinated regional commitment, and this platform demonstrates both. Eng. Dr. Pablo Martinez, Country Representative, GGGI Uganda, Angola, and Zambia, noted.

Reinforcing the importance of structured regional approaches, NDC Partnership Global Director Pablo Vieira stated, “East African countries are collaborating to unlock climate finance by moving beyond fragmented projects toward more coherent, structured approaches that support long-term investment in national climate and development priorities. The East Africa Climate Finance Director Level Meeting provides a critical platform for countries to align their efforts and scale investment across the region.”

The first day of the 7^th EACFDLM sparked an intensive dialogue on how East African countries can move from policy frameworks toward implementation, strengthening systems that enable the flow of climate finance. While reaffirming a shared commitment to regional cooperation, participants highlighted the need to align climate priorities with national development strategies and public financial management systems to advance NDC 3.0 ambitions.

Speaking on behalf of the United Kingdom, Ms. Jennifer Stockhill, Deputy High Commissioner, emphasized the importance of sustained partnership… “The UK has long worked with partners across East Africa to support sustainable growth, strengthen resilience, and help build the conditions for effective climate action. Our cooperation with the Rwanda Green Fund reflects a shared commitment to practical, locally driven solutions that delivers long term benefits for communities and the environment.” 

The hybrid meeting brings together delegates from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, alongside peer-learning countries including Zambia, regional actors including the East Africa Community (EAC), and development partners like the United Kingdom and Germany. Through focused technical sessions and peer-to-peer learning, delegates examined priority areas including climate finance governance, institutional coordination, and innovative approaches to mobilizing climate finance.

Discussions underscored the value of coordinated regional initiatives in strengthening readiness to access international climate finance, developing bankable national and regional project pipelines, enhancing private sector participation, and effective local policy implementation. 

Delegates further identified opportunities to strengthen the integrity of climate finance information and to leverage regional platforms like the EACFDLM to support the coordinated delivery of NDC 3.0 ambitions.

The 7th EACFDLM was organized by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The event was funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with technical support provided by the Global Green Growth Institute. The NDC Partnership Support Unit, in its capacity as host of the Center for Access to Climate Finance, contributed to event planning. Looking ahead, the meeting endorsed a shared regional commitment to move from dialogue to delivery, strengthen resilience, and drive inclusive green growth across East Africa. GGGI reaffirmed its commitment to supporting country-led and regionally coordinated efforts for inclusive climate action.