By Witness Radio team.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Africa has ushered in a new era of climate leadership with the adoption of the historic African Leaders’ Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action at the conclusion of the Second African Climate Summit (ACS2) on Wednesday, 10th. This landmark agreement not only redefines Africa’s role in the global climate debate but also showcases the continent’s unity, determination, and potential to drive innovation, justice, and sustainable solutions.

Over 25,000 people attended the three-day Summit that ran from 8th to 10th of September, and was organized by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in partnership with the African Union. Those in attendance included heads of state, ministers, representatives from civil society, the private sector, indigenous leaders, young people, and scholars. The Summit concluded with ambitious pledges aimed at positioning Africa at the forefront of the global climate economy, under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”

During the Declaration, the Africa Climate Innovation Compact (ACIC) was launched, headed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The ACIC, a key component of the Addis Ababa Declaration, is a collaborative platform that aims to foster the development and implementation of innovative climate solutions across Africa. By 2030, the Compact hopes to deliver 1,000 African-led climate solutions in vital areas like energy, agriculture, water, transportation, and resilience, while also raising $50 billion a year in catalytic finance. Leaders underlined that money for adaptation needs to be viewed as a legal duty of the developed world, not as charity, and should be provided in grants rather than loans that might make Africa’s debt problem worse.

The Addis Ababa Declaration also underscores the importance of scaling up existing African initiatives, including the African Union Great Green Wall, the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, and Ethiopia’s Green Legacy. These initiatives, rooted in Africa’s indigenous solutions, demonstrate that the continent already possesses the tools to transform vulnerability into resilience, a fact that should fill us all with pride and optimism.

Partners and financial institutions united behind Africa’s agenda. In an effort to channel green bonds and creative instruments tailored to Africa’s realities, the African Development Bank announced the operationalization of the African Climate Change Fund. This fund will provide financial support for climate adaptation and mitigation projects across the continent. At the same time, the Africa Finance Corporation, AfDB, Afreximbank, and Africa50 signed a framework for cooperation to realise the $100 billion Africa Green Industrialization Initiative, which aims to revolutionize industrial growth and renewable energy on the continent. These partnerships and financial commitments are crucial in supporting Africa’s transition to a green economy.

Furthermore, the Addis Ababa Declaration received significant backing from donor nations. Italy reaffirmed its $4.2 billion Italian Climate Fund, with 70% earmarked for Africa, while Denmark committed $79 million for agricultural transformation. These substantial financial commitments should reassure the continent that the international community has confidence in Africa’s climate initiatives.

Other aspects in the Declaration emphasized the continent’s goal of bridging the resilience and energy gaps. Within the next ten years, the Mission 300 Agenda seeks to give 900 million Africans access to clean cooking solutions and 300 million to modern energy. To climate-proof Africa’s cities, infrastructure, and food systems, the second phase of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP 2.0) was announced, with a target of $50 billion by 2030. To ensure that Africa’s cobalt, lithium, and rare earth resources support local industrialization, job creation, and economic transformation, in addition to contributing to global clean energy supply chains, leaders have also advanced a Green Minerals Strategy.

The moral position of the Addis Ababa Declaration is equally essential. Leaders emphasized how Africa bears a disproportionate amount of the consequences of climate change despite contributing the least to global emissions. They contended that this gives the continent a special moral right to demand justice internationally. Ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Declaration embodies a unified African voice by prioritizing innovation, nature-based solutions, and equitable financing.

Delegates described the Addis Ababa gathering as a demonstration of Africa’s ability to convene, lead, and deliver solutions that resonate beyond its borders. Over 240 side events, 43 exhibitions, and 23 national pavilions showcased Africa’s technological innovations, policy frameworks, and community-driven solutions, reinforcing the idea that the continent is ready to lead.

The government of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission have pledged to shepherd the implementation of the Addis Ababa Declaration, ensuring that the commitments made at ACS2 translate into tangible results for communities across the continent.

By Witness Radio team.

Tomorrow, September 11, 2025, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and smallholder farmers from within and outside the East African (EA) region will meet to critically review, discuss, and provide recommendations on the draft East African Community Seed and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025.

Gazetted in February by the East African Community Gazette, the Bill’s objective is to provide for the coordination of evaluation, release, and registration of plant varieties among Partner States; to provide for standard processes for seed certification and the protection of plant varieties within the Community; and to provide for related matters.

The preliminary findings from farmers and CSOs on the Bill reveal that if passed in the current form, it poses a significant risk to farmers’ rights, seed sovereignty, and the rich agro-biodiversity of the region. This biodiversity, comprising a diverse array of crops and plant species, forms the foundation of food security and climate resilience in the area. The Bill could potentially lead to a loss of these diverse plant varieties, threatening the region’s food security and agricultural sustainability.

They further state that the Bill, in its current form, blatantly violates Article 6(d) of the EAC Treaty, which promotes the principles of social justice, equal opportunities, and the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights. This violation demands immediate Action, highlighting the injustice at hand.

In the webinar slated for tomorrow, the theme ‘What’s at Stake for Smallholder Farmers?’ It will be of utmost importance, emphasizing the significance of your participation. The participants will further discuss the more profound implications of the Bill and point out alternative routes for broader engagement on the Bill, suggesting safeguards for smallholder farmers and fortifying resilient food systems.

The webinar will be broadcast live on Witness Radio from 3 to 5 p.m. EAT. For more information on how to follow the discussion, visit our website at www.witnessradio.org and press the ‘Listen Live’ button on the right-hand side of the website, or go to your Play Store and download the Witness Radio app.

By Witness Radio team.

Young people are harnessing the power of digital tools to advocate for global land restoration. This use of technology, along with grassroots organizing and innovation, is seen as a key strategy in overcoming the climate and land crises. This was a significant takeaway from the first session of the Land and Youth Digital Conference, which is taking place virtually from September 9 to 11, 2025. The Land Portal organizes it in collaboration with its partners, including Witness Radio and youth groups.

Broadcasting live on Witness Radio, the first session—titled “Restoring Our Lands by Youth-Led Solutions “was organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and explored how youth are being integrated into land restoration initiatives, from smallholder farmers at the grassroots to decision-making spaces at international negotiations.

The GEF, according to its website, comprises several multilateral funds that work together to address the planet’s most pressing challenges in an integrated manner. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals.

Urxe Urtegae, the Youth and Partnerships Analyst at the GEF, opened the session by stressing the importance of youth in shaping the future of sustainable land management.

“In Africa, where most of the population is under 35, young people are not just stakeholders—they are central actors,” she noted, adding that “We must integrate their visions, challenges, and ideas into our projects and governance models.”

She emphasized how the GEF works with young people through gender policies, fellowship opportunities, stakeholder mapping, and helping young negotiators gain access to international decision-making platforms, such as the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

According to Ulrich Apel, a senior Environment Specialist at the GEF, with $5.3 billion committed for its current funding cycle (2022–2026), almost 20 million hectares of land have been restored, and 75 million hectares have been placed under sustainable land management.

“GEF’s mandate is to protect the global environment. But we work so that local communities and young people benefit directly, linking grassroots action to global goals.” He added.

Innovation on the Ground: MyFarmTrees

Chris Kettle, Principal Scientist at the Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT, presented a case study that included the introduction of MyFarmTrees, one of the innovations involving youths.

Here, blockchain technology is utilized by the IUCN-implemented digital platform, which is supported by the GEF, to track and validate smallholder-led restoration efforts. Also, farmers can access new markets for their planting material, receive direct incentive payments through mobile wallets like M-Pesa, and demonstrate the genetic diversity and quality of their native tree seedlings.

“Digital tools offer extraordinary opportunities to link smallholder farmers to global climate and biodiversity goals. They have been used to document tree farms and have enabled farmers to receive digital payments that improve resilience against flooding linked to climate change.” Kettle emphasized.

Despite these advancements, issues like limited access to resources, underrepresentation in governing bodies, and insecure land tenure still affect young people. They, however, did point out that youth-led projects can significantly speed up climate resilience and land restoration with the correct backing.

The Land and Youth Digital Conference runs through September 11, convening youth leaders from indigenous communities, rural areas, land practitioners, and climate activists. Insights from the sessions are expected to contribute to global policy discussions, including at the upcoming COP30 climate negotiations.

Charl-Thom Bayer, the Land Portal Foundation’s Acting Team Leader, opened the conference by cautioning that the youth of today are inheriting “a fractured world driven by inequality and a failing response to the climate crisis.” He denounced the ongoing exclusion of young people from decision-making, noting that those in positions of authority today are shaping the future while often disregarding the opinions of the younger generation.

“We cannot continue to ignore the youth or marginalize their voices in the global land debate,” he said. “This is not about handing young people a seat at the table—it is about building a new table, where power is shared, where all voices matter, and where decisions are made with a generational perspective, not just the next election cycle.”

Thom underlined the importance of knowledge as a public good, describing access to land data and information as “an enabling right” that fuels accountability, storytelling, and movement-building. He positioned the conference as a catalyst for amplifying youth narratives and ensuring their presence at global platforms such as COP30.