The African Development Bank proposes to convene a strategic side event on unlocking nature finance in Africa, with a focus on the state of play, emerging opportunities and practical pathways for stronger collaboration among Multilateral Development Banks. 

The session will bring together MDBs working across Africa, selected countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, and regional partners including the Congo Basin Forest Partnership the Central African Forest Initiative and the Great Green Wall. 

The discussion will examine how to mobilize and scale nature finance across the continent, drawing lessons from existing instruments, country platforms, forest and biodiversity funds, and recent commitments such as the Belém Call to Action for the Congo Basin Forests, through which partners committed to mobilize more than US$2.5 billion over five years for the protection and sustainable management of Congo Basin forests. 

The event will identify opportunities for MDB coordination around pipelines, blended finance, policy reforms, carbon and biodiversity markets, safeguards, and country-led investment platforms that can translate political commitments into bankable nature-positive investments.