EfD Nigeria has launched a new project on Innovative Climate Finance for Unlocking Development and Equity in Africa (INCLUDING-Africa), a regional initiative aimed at strengthening climate finance systems and promoting inclusive low-carbon development across West Africa.
The project was launched on May 12, 2026 at an inception workshop attended by stakeholders from government ministries, development institutions, the private sector and civil society organisations. Participants discussed strategies for improving climate finance mobilisation and access for vulnerable groups across the region.
The three-year project, funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is being implemented by EfD Nigeria, in collaboration with partners from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and the EfD Global Hub.
The University of Nigeria management supports the project implementation
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, assured the stakeholders of the university’s “unflinching support” in ensuring that the project achieves its objectives and delivers meaningful outcomes for Nigeria and other participating countries across Africa.
Simon Uchenna Ortuanya noted that climate change is one of the greatest development challenges facing the continent, stressing the need for stronger partnerships, research-driven policies and inclusive financial systems to support adaptation and resilience.
Project will ease barriers to accessing climate finance
The project team lead and Director of EfD Nigeria, Prof. Nnaemeka Chukwuone, said that the project was designed to address persistent barriers preventing African countries from accessing and deploying climate finance at the scale required to meet national climate commitments.
Nnaemeka Chukwuone explained that despite commitments in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), many African countries still face significant climate finance gaps.
He said that current climate finance received by West African and Sahel countries covers only about seven per cent of their projected needs by 2030, while countries such as Nigeria and Ghana continue to record substantial annual financing deficits.
“The INCLUDING - Africa project will examine and strengthen fiscal, financial, and policy frameworks to enhance climate finance mobilization while also developing innovative financial tools and building institutional capacity for low-carbon and climate-resilient development,” Nnaemka Chuukwuone said.
Under the project’s framework, researchers will deploy computable general equilibrium models, stakeholder surveys, political economy studies, and participatory action research to assess climate-related reforms and co-design innovative financing instruments.
The project also includes pilot-testing financial instruments with 200 MSMEs across participating countries, alongside capacity-building programs for regulators, financial institutions, and community organizations.
Experts beyond EfD Nigeria are involved in the implementation
Though the project will focus on Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, the implementation will draw experts from a consortium of institutions including the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, African Energy Transition Services (AETS), the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, and the EfD Global Hub.
Participants in the workshop highlighted the importance of inclusive climate finance systems that prioritise women, youth, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and local communities that are often excluded from mainstream funding mechanisms.
The inception workshop also provided an opportunity for the inaugural meeting of the Project Advisory Committee, chaired by the former Director of Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative, Sweden, Professor Gunnar Köhlin.