The Africa Climate Investment Summit (ACIS 2025) concluded in Nairobi with a resounding call for African-led collaboration to drive climate finance and accelerate the growth of climate-resilient enterprises across the continent. Hosted by the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), the summit brought together government leaders, investors, development partners, and innovators from more than five African countries, united in their commitment to transform Africa’s climate investment landscape.
From Fragmented Efforts to a Unified Vision
Participants acknowledged Africa’s abundance of innovative, climate-smart solutions that are already making a difference in local communities. However, many of these initiatives face barriers due to fragmented financing systems and a lack of coordinated policy and investment structures. Discussions at ACIS 2025 emphasized that the issue is not a shortage of innovation, but the absence of mechanisms to scale and sustain these solutions effectively.
Launch of the Africa Climate Investment Platform and Revolving Fund
A key highlight of the summit was the endorsement of the Africa Climate Investment Platform (ACIP) and the official launch of a Revolving Fund aimed at mobilizing African capital to support climate-smart enterprises. Together, these initiatives mark a major step toward building an integrated, continent-wide climate finance architecture. Held under the theme “Ambition and Priorities for COP30,” the closing session convened over 100 delegates, reflecting growing regional and international support for Africa’s unified climate investment priorities. Speaking during the launch, Joseph Murabula, CEO of the Kenya Climate Innovation Center, underscored the importance of African ownership in shaping the continent’s climate finance future.
“Africa’s climate finance future will be shaped by African institutions and African innovation,” said Murabula. “The Africa Climate Investment Platform moves us from ambition to action — channeling resources directly into enterprises and ecosystems that are transforming communities.”
Strengthening Africa’s Climate Investment Ecosystem
The newly launched ACIP will serve as a collaborative platform linking regional Climate Innovation Centers and investment partners. Its focus will be to build strong project pipelines, enhance investor readiness, and expand access to capital, technical support, and markets across critical sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water systems, waste management, and nature-based solutions. Bankole Oloruntoba, CEO of the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), highlighted how this regional collaboration represents a turning point for Africa’s innovation landscape.
“Innovation hubs are powerful connectors. By aligning them, we’re creating an open and shared investment ecosystem that enables collaboration across countries,” Oloruntoba noted.
Creating an Enabling Environment for Climate Investment
During the summit’s Leadership Roundtable, participants emphasized the need for coherent regulatory frameworks and clearer investment taxonomies. They noted that outdated or fragmented policies often hinder the deployment of emerging climate solutions, and that building strong national platforms will be key to ensuring local enterprises can effectively engage with continental investment mechanisms such as ACIP.
Setting the Agenda for COP30 and Beyond
The outcomes of ACIS 2025 will shape Africa’s collective climate finance strategy ahead of COP30 in Brazil, where the Africa Climate Investment Manifesto will be presented to the global community. Development partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Africa’s priorities, emphasizing that robust local enterprises and resilient investment systems are essential to the continent’s long-term sustainability.
“Africa holds the solutions to its own climate challenges,” Murabula affirmed. “By investing in innovation, we invest in Africa’s ability to thrive. KCIC remains committed to connecting capital with creativity to drive measurable impact for people, planet, and prosperity.”
A Decade of Leadership in Climate Innovation
For over a decade, KCIC has championed climate-resilient entrepreneurship, managing partnerships with global institutions including DANIDA, the European Union, the World Bank, and the IKEA Foundation. The 2025 summit reaffirmed KCIC’s leadership in advancing a unified approach to climate investment and sustainable development across Africa. As ACIS 2025 closed, one message stood out clearly: Africa is building its own climate finance systems — designed by Africans, for Africa — to power a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.