Rooted in the recognition that Africa will shape the future–not only for Africans, but for the worlds–President Biden invited leaders from across the African continent to Washington, DC on December 13-15, 2022 for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.
UCLG Africa Secretary General, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi made a presentation in the official meeting on supporting conservation, climate adaptation, and just energy transition at the US-Africa Leaders Summit on December 13, 2022, which was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
The meeting saw the participation of numerous healds of state, including Felix Tshisekedi (President, DRC); Wavel Ramkalawan (President, Seychelles); Hakainde Hichilema (President, Zambia); Muhammadu Buhari (President, Nigeria); Theodore Obiang Nguema Mbazogo (President, Equatorial Guinea); and Ali Bongo Odimba (President Gabon). The meeting was further attended by Antony Blinken (US Secretary of State); Samantha Power (Administrator, USAID); and several other US cabinet members. Many representatives of international organizations, private sector, civil society, and philanthropies were also present.
UCLG Africa pledged for the creation of a Local Africa early rescue and relief facility that would assist the local communities hit by climate related disasters, using decentralized cooperation mechanisms for timely and efficient interventions.
“We sincerely call on the US government working with all US stakeholders, the African Union and any other interested partners, to support local Africa in order to address the issues that African people experience in their day-to-day life, particularly those brought about by climate change. We count on the US Government’s and Special Envoy His Excellency John Kerry’s unweathering commitment in working with and building a large coalition of partners in support of this UCLG Africa transformation agenda of people to people cooperation, with ATIA [the Africa Territorial Trade and Investment Agency] as a pivotal technical and financial platform for and driven by local Africa”, Mbassi said.
Source: ULCG-Africa website.