Pan-African Youth Adaptation Forum Kenya

Event description

In 2025 in the lead up to COP30, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in partnership with local youth organizations, will organize “African Youth Adaptation Forums” to build a network of youth engaged with adaptation and spotlight youth-led adaptation solutions.

Organized by GCA and the Kenya School of Government, the fifth Youth Adaptation Forum was held in Nairobi, Kenya on the 5th of September 2025.

Over 200 youth leaders from across Africa and 50 countries worldwide issued a Pan-African Youth Communiqué on climate adaptation to be presented to global decision-makers at COP30, calling for an urgent scaling up of adaptation finance.

The communiqué was received by Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, GCA President and CEO and senior officials and partners, including Professor Nura Mohamed, Director General of the Kenya School of Government; Mr. Hans Olav Ibekk, Special Envoy for Climate and Security, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Dr. Ana Maria Loboguerrero, Director for Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems, Gates Foundation.

Session Format

The Forum brought together students, youth-led organizations, universities, government representatives, and adaptation experts to engage in an adaptation exchange. Young people had the opportunity to share their needs for building a climate-resilient future, as well as recommendations for governments and decision-makers.