Africa Day at COP31: High-Level Segment. Theme: Securing Africa's Water: Advancing Climate Resilience, Early Action and Climate Finance

DateThursday 12 November 2026

Time16:00–18:30 (Europe/Istanbul)

VenueAfrica Pavilion, COP31 Blue Zone

ThemeWater, early warning & climate finance (Africa Day)

Lead organizer African Union

Overview

Event on the AU 2026 Theme of the Year on Water and Sanitation, positioning water investments, multi-hazard early warning systems and anticipatory action (with preparedness for the anticipated 2026-2027 El Niño), ecosystems and landscape resilience, and climate finance as drivers of Africa's resilience, and building momentum towards COP32 (Addis Ababa, 2027). Programme: Session 1 opening ceremony; Session 2 high-level leadership dialogue; Session 3 partnership commitments and call to action.

Panelists and speakers

moderator

H.E. Moses Vilakati

Commissioner, ARBE, AUC

speaker

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssou

Chairperson, AUC Opening Remarks

speaker

H.E. William Ruto

President of Kenya

speaker

H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye

President of Burundi, AU Chairperson, AU

speaker

H.E Daniel Chapo

President of Mozambique

speaker

Dr. Ousmane Ndiaye

Director General, ACMAD Strategic briefing on the 2026-2027 El Niño outlook and implications for Africa; accelerating multi-hazard early warning systems and anticipatory action

Side-event documents

Concept noteAFRICA DAY - CONCEPT NOTE

Partners

Unite Nations Economic Commision

African Union

African Development Bank

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