On February 18–19, the AE4RIA team, under the auspices of the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub, partnered with the Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE) to deliver a two-day training session on climate finance for GAGE members. GAGE, an initiative led by the UAE Government and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), aims to promote sustainable economic growth and green finance globally.
The Climate Finance Enablers Capacity Building Program was designed to equip GAGE member states with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to access, mobilize, and effectively use climate finance. This program addressed the urgent need to close the finance gap by enhancing participants’ ability to unlock and leverage various climate finance opportunities.
Led by AE4RIA director Prof. Dr. Phoebe Koundouri, alongside senior researchers Dr. Conrad Landis, Dr. Konstantinos Dellis, and Dr. Ebun Akinsete, the training covered key topics such as climate finance, funding mechanisms, strategy development, project planning, stakeholder engagement, and private sector involvement in adaptation.
Targeting policymakers, financial institutions, and key stakeholders, the program provided practical insights into navigating climate finance. Through expert-led sessions, workshops, and discussions, participants explored the latest funding mechanisms, developed bankable projects, and learned how to align with international standards and engage with major climate funds like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).