GCA Welcomes Ali D. Mohamed as AAAP Distinguished Fellow
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otterdam, the Netherlands, 8 July 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) welcomes the appointment of Ali D. Mohamed, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Senior Advisor to the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya, as a GCA Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) Distinguished Fellow.
Mr. Mohamed brings over three decades of distinguished service in climate diplomacy and policy. From shaping multilateral processes as Chair of the African Group of Negotiators under the UNFCCC to steering the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, his leadership has consistently elevated Africa’s adaptation priorities on the global stage. His ongoing contributions to the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, the UN Special Purpose Bond Facility (UNSPBF), and the Africa-California Climate and Economic Partnership further underscore his commitment to forging bold, finance-driven solutions for climate resilience.
The Distinguished Fellow track recognizes exceptional leadership in adaptation, requiring a minimum of 15 years of experience and a record of significant impact on policy and practice at both continental and international levels.
“I am honored to join GCA as a Distinguished Fellow,” said Ali D. Mohamed. “Together, we will co-design transformative adaptation programmes, advocate for a doubling of adaptation finance, and mentor the next generation of African climate leaders to ensure our communities thrive in the face of a changing climate.”
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 17 billion in investments across 40 African countries, demonstrating the continent’s leadership in its own adaptation agenda. The Fellowship Programme cultivates a cadre of African adaptation champions through three tracks: Emerging Adaptation Leader, Senior Fellow, and Distinguished Fellow. Distinguished Fellows receive an annual honorarium, access to GCA’s global knowledge networks, invitations to high-level policy forums, and strategic visibility support.
“Ali’s visionary leadership and deep expertise will be instrumental as we propel the AAAP into its next, more ambitious phase,” said Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of GCA. “His voice will amplify Africa’s adaptation priorities at the highest levels and help secure the finance and partnerships needed to safeguard the continent’s future.”
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 and is currently building a new headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. This will make GCA the first international organization to maintain dual headquarters in both the Global North and South—underscoring the equal partnership between both regions and recognizing that climate adaptation solutions must be co-designed and co-owned. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China.
About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP)
The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) is a joint initiative by the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation, aimed at embedding climate adaptation solutions into $25 billion of critical development investments in agriculture, infrastructure, water and other public services over five years to scale up climate adaptation in Africa. Since its launch, the GCA’s AAAP Upstream Financing Facility has shaped over $17 billion in investments, helping to build climate resilience for millions across the continent.
