The Nairobi-based Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the United Cities and Local Governments in Africa (UCLG Africa) have signed a joint memorandum of understanding in Kisumu which aims to help UCLG Africa integrate climate change.
Speaking in the ongoing ninth Africities Summit, the acting Executive Director, PACJA Charles Mwangi lauded the MOU noting that it aims to assist UCLG Africa in incorporating climate change programming into its mission of promoting African unity and development through grassroots cities and new urban areas.
“The PACJA is pleased to sign this MOU with the UCLG Africa at such an important Summit,” said Mwangi.
He stated that PACJA has supported climate-smart pro-poor development and equity-based perspectives pertinent to Africa and that collaboration with UCLG Africa extends that support to populations living in cities, urban areas and new and future towns.
Mwangi highlighted that the MOU commits PACJA and UCLG Africa to cooperating in the implementation of initiatives of mutual interest ahead of the 27th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Egypt later this year.
According to Mohamed Nbou, Director, Climate Change Department, UCLG Africa, the trend of urbanization has the potential to serve as a change agent, pushing economic growth in some of the world’s poorest countries and lifting more people out of poverty, but climate change offers a concern.
“Our partnership with PACJA, leading coalition of CSOs on the voices of African people in the climate discourses is coming at the right time. UCLG Africa will seek the advice and support of PACJA on ways community voices can be harnessed in planning for climate-proof cities,” said Mohamed.
According to the Agreement, the two organizations will mobilize stakeholders in the climate change sector, including African policymakers, in co-designing programs on building resilience for African cities, building the resilience of the urban poor through joint implementation of locally led climate actions, particularly in the water sector, and exploring greater linkages with new emerging issues, as well as mainstreaming climate change in budgetary plans for local governments and cities.
Furthermore, the two organisations collaborate on climate change research and its impact on African economic development, as well as on livelihood enhancement projects, particularly by forging partnerships between the private sector, cities, and other non-state actors.
The MOU also calls for UCLG Africa to utilise PACJA’s evidence-based advocacy work on climate change in its interventions within cities and new urban regions.
