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Africa Strengthens Capacity for Climate Transparency and Adaptation Reporting at the 2026 Adaptation Academy
Africa is experiencing climate impacts that are increasingly difficult to ignore. Droughts, floods, changing rainfall patterns, food insecurity and other climate-related risks are placing pressure on communities, economies and ecosystems. Responding effectively requires more than understanding these impacts; countries need the capacity, data and systems to assess vulnerability, plan responses, monitor progress and generate reliable information for decision-making and reporting.
From 18 to 21 August 2026, African climate practitioners gathered for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Action and Support Transparency Training (CASTT) Adaptation Academy for Africa 2026, hosted by the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). Held under the theme “Climate Transparency and Adaptation Action: Strengthening Adaptation Reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF),” the four-day Academy provided a platform for learning, peer exchange and practical engagement.
The Academy was jointly delivered by the UNFCCC Secretariat, Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency – Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Strengthening the systems behind climate reporting
Throughout the Academy, participants explored how adaptation planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting can be better connected. Discussions focused on the tools, methodologies and indicators needed to generate consistent and policy-relevant adaptation information.
Participants examined the links between Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), Adaptation Communications (ACs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). They also explored monitoring, evaluation and learning systems, reporting on losses and damages, and the application of the Belém Adaptation Indicators in national contexts.
A key theme throughout the discussions was that effective adaptation reporting depends on the systems behind it. Reliable data, institutional coordination, technical expertise and clear mechanisms for collecting, managing and sharing information are essential for countries to produce credible climate information.
This aligns closely with RCMRD's wider work under the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT). In partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and other stakeholders, RCMRD is implementing a four-year programme that supports member states to strengthen their capacity to measure, report and verify climate-related information and meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework. Through CBIT, RCMRD is supporting stronger national and regional transparency frameworks, greenhouse gas inventory development, data management and sharing, and tracking of progress towards Nationally Determined Contributions. The programme has already trained more than 400 participants from key institutions and consulting organisations, with practical training covering greenhouse gas emissions from energy, transport, waste, agriculture, land use and forestry.
Learning through country experience Beyond technical sessions, the Academy provided an opportunity for countries to share their experiences and learn from one another. The delegation from Côte d’Ivoire, for example, presented progress in developing its National Climate Transparency System and establishing a national adaptation monitoring platform. The experience provided a practical basis for discussions on strengthening information systems and addressing gaps in adaptation data, indicators and institutional arrangements. Such exchanges reinforced the importance of developing solutions that respond to national circumstances while drawing on lessons and good practices from across the continent
Putting data at the centre of adaptation
Reliable spatial information can help countries understand where climate risks are occurring, identify vulnerable populations and ecosystems, monitor changes in the landscape and assess whether adaptation interventions are reaching priority areas.
This perspective was reflected in the opening address by Kenya's Director of Surveys, Weldon Maritim, who highlighted the expanding role of geospatial information in assessing vulnerability, monitoring land-use change, tracking droughts and floods, and supporting the verification of adaptation results.
His message captured an important lesson from the Academy: climate transparency requires more than reporting frameworks. It requires credible data, strong institutions and the capacity to turn information into evidence for action.
From capacity building to action
The 2026 Adaptation Academy forms part of a broader effort to strengthen Africa's capacity to generate, manage and use climate information. RCMRD's work under CBIT, together with the Adaptation Academy, contributes to this effort by strengthening both the technical and institutional foundations needed for effective climate transparency.
As participants concluded four days of expert presentations, practical exercises and peer learning, the Academy provided not only new knowledge but also opportunities to identify approaches that can be adapted to national contexts. Ultimately, stronger adaptation reporting is about more than meeting international requirements. It is about ensuring that countries have the evidence needed to understand climate risks, track progress and make informed decisions.
