GCA Welcomes Dr. Richard Muyungi as AAAP Distinguished Fellow
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otterdam, the Netherlands, 16 June 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Richard Muyungi, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as a GCA Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) Distinguished Fellow.
Dr. Muyungi brings over two decades of distinguished leadership in climate adaptation policy and negotiations, having steered the African Group through critical global discussions to elevate the continent’s adaptation priorities. In his new role as a Distinguished Fellow, he will serve as a thought leader, representing African perspectives in high-level forums, co-designing flagship adaptation programmes and mentoring emerging leaders across the continent. The Distinguished Fellow track recognizes exceptional leadership and requires a minimum of 15 years of experience, coupled with significant contributions to shaping adaptation policy at continental and global levels.
“Climate change poses an existential threat to communities across Africa, yet it also presents an opportunity for innovation and resilience,” said Dr. Richard Muyungi. “I am honored to join GCA as a Distinguished Fellow, and I look forward to collaborating with fellow experts and policymakers to accelerate adaptation action investments that safeguard livelihoods and drive sustainable development across our continent. That’s why the second phase of the AAAP needs to be bold and impactful to truly scale up resilience across Africa.”
Since its launch, the AAAP—a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and GCA, endorsed by the African Union—has worked to climate-proof over USD 14 billion in investments by 2025 across 40 countries, underscoring Africa’s commitment to lead its own adaptation agenda. The Fellowship Programme, established to cultivate a cadre of African adaptation leaders, comprises three tracks: Emerging Adaptation Leader, Senior Fellow, and Distinguished Fellow. Distinguished Fellows receive an annual honorarium for active engagement, access to GCA’s knowledge networks, participation in high-level policy forums and strategic visibility support.
“Richard Muyungi’s appointment as an AAAP Distinguished Fellow represents a milestone for adaptation leadership in Africa,” said Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation. “His experience and vision will be instrumental as we expand the AAAP into its next phase and work alongside governments, financial institutions, and communities to scale up resilience solutions across the continent.”
Notes to Editors
About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent.
Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. The Center will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.
