Bienvenidos a las Naciones Unidas
Idioma:
  1. Portada
  2. High-Level Development Partners’ Convening on the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP) 2.0

High-Level Development Partners’ Convening on the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP) 2.0

Keynote Address by Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura 

Under-Secretary-General and Director-General 

United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) 

at the High-Level Development Partners’ Convening on the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP) 2.0 

Nairobi, Kenya – 4 & 5 September 2025 

******************************** 

 

Good morning, All. 

 

By reference allow me to greet Your Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Honorary Chair of the Board of the Global Centre on Adaptation and Former United Nations Secretary-General. 

  • Your Excellency Dr. A. Korir Sing’oei, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, representative of Honourable Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Kenya and Co-Chair of the AAAP 2.0; 

  • Professor Patrick Verkooijen, President & CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, Chancellor of the University of Nairobi and Co-Chair of the AAAP 2.0; 

  • Your Excellency Mr. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, People’s Republic of China; 

  • Your Excellency Ms. Ana Toni, CEO, Brazil presidency of the UNFCCC COP30; 

  • Mr. Ali D. Mohamed, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Senior Advisor to the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya; 

  • Dr. Deborah M. Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry in the Republic of Kenya; 

  • Honourable Gladys Wanga, Governor of Homa Bay County; 

  • Honourable Members of the Diplomatic Corps; 

  • Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners; 

  • Distinguished Public and Private Sector Partners Including Mr James Mwagi – CEO Equity Bank Holdings, Delegates & Participants;  

  • Ladies and Gentlemen: 

 

Good morning.  

It is both an honour and a privilege to bring you warm greetings from the United Nations family here in Kenya in my capacity as Under Secretary General and Director General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). As you know, UNON is one of three headquarter offices outside of the global UN Secretariat in New York (UNHQ) and the only UN headquarter office in Africa and the Global South. The other two are in Geneva (UNOG) and Vienna (UNOV).  

 

Kenya is home to UNON and uniquely hosts the global headquarters of the only two UN agencies based in Africa: UNEP and UN Habitat, establishing the country as a center for international environmental governance.   

Africa is increasingly becoming the venue for pivotal discussions and conversations, standing at the frontline of climate change. UNEP recently celebrated and hosted the 40th Anniversary of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in July 2025.  

 

Today’s AAAP 2.0 highlights Africa’s growing importance in global environmental and financial multilateralism.   

 

Kindly allow me to share a snippet of my message to the AMCEN body back in July in which I asked for collective commitment and a vision for adaptation – as these discussions and consultations unfold, let us all recommit to a whole-of-society approach ensuring that  no one is left behind. Resources must be accessible, scalable and equitable empowering the most vulnerable nations to mitigate and adapt effectively so that more vulnerable nations can mitigate and adapt effectively.”   

 

In closing my statement, let me offer this reflection for this meeting: accelerating adaptation calls for extraordinary collaboration. Governments, the private sector, civil society, and global partners must come together in authentic and equitable partnership. To succeed, we must break down barriers, share data, transfer technology, and invest in building capacity. 

Africa is not a continent defined by victimhood, but one of innovation, energy, generosity, and hope—a place where resilience thrives amidst challenges. The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP) 2.0, along with wider adaptation initiatives, exemplifies this spirit. They embody our shared determination to transform vulnerability into opportunity, and to turn challenges into avenues for transformative progress. 

I am truly delighted to join you all at this distinguished gathering and anticipate that our discussions will enhance our collective understanding. I wish everyone fruitful and engaging deliberations. 

Thank you.