By Ayomide Otitoju
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has been named the new host of the Secretariat of the Africa Natural Capital Accounting Community of Practice (Africa NCA-CoP), reinforcing its leadership in integrating natural capital into climate-resilient development strategies across the continent.
The Secretariat, previously hosted by the World Bank, will now be based at AfDB’s headquarters in Abidjan. The Bank will oversee the review and implementation of the Africa NCA-CoP strategy and action plan, in line with its priority on natural resources value addition. It will also collaborate with partners, including the World Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the African Union, to mobilize resources and scale up activities.
Launched in 2020, the Africa NCA-CoP brings together more than 500 members from 48 countries, promoting capacity building, data-driven policymaking, and knowledge sharing on natural capital accounting.
The announcement was made during a side event at the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit 2.0 in Addis Ababa, where policymakers, development partners, and practitioners stressed the need to embed natural capital into national policies, economic planning, and investment strategies.
Fred Kabanda, Manager of AfDB’s African Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre, said hosting the Secretariat demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to natural capital.
“The African Development Bank is prioritizing natural capital as outlined in its Natural Resources Management and Investment Action Plan (2025–2029), anchored in our Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033),” Kabanda said. “This role enables us to build capacity, foster collaboration, and ensure natural capital is integrated into policies and investments driving climate-resilient development across Africa.”
Natural resources are central to Africa’s economies and livelihoods, yet their value is often underrepresented in conventional economic indicators, leaving ecosystems undervalued and climate risks unaddressed.
By assuming this hosting role, AfDB is expected to strengthen continental ownership of natural capital initiatives, advance policy engagement, and unlock Africa’s potential for inclusive, green, and climate-resilient growth.
