AUK Media-@Editor

Ministers and high-ranking officials from nearly 200 countries have gathered in the Amazonian city of Belém, Brazil, for COP30, which Brazil has described as “the COP of implementation.” The focus this year is on turning commitments into action — and for Africa, this represents both an urgent challenge and a historic opportunity.

Despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa remains one of the most vulnerable regions to the devastating impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are already undermining the continent’s economies, damaging infrastructure, displacing communities, and threatening livelihoods.

Yet, in the face of this existential threat, Africa has the potential to lead the way toward a more sustainable and resilient future. The Second Africa Climate Summit, held in Ethiopia in September, underscored the continent’s growing leadership in climate action. It highlighted African-led solutions, new financial commitments, and strategies for green growth and resilience — with priorities including a just energy transition, nature-based solutions, food and water security, and community empowerment.

Building on this momentum, Africa’s delegation to COP30 should focus on three interlinked priorities: climate finance, climate adaptation, and sustainable development. Experts and organizations stress that access to adequate climate finance is essential if Africa is to meet its climate and development goals.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that the continent will require between $1.3 trillion and $1.6 trillion in climate finance between 2020 and 2030 to achieve its targets under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As such, COP30 must deliver a concrete roadmap for mobilising and equitably distributing resources to support Africa’s climate action.

As Patricia Espinosa, former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, aptly noted, “climate finance is about saving lives and reducing suffering.” For Africa, ensuring that this COP truly becomes the COP of implementation means turning pledges into tangible progress — and proving that climate justice begins with real investment in those who bear the greatest burden.

By Caleb Koyo | Africa in Motion-

Nairobi- Kenya

When classrooms closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, one Tanzanian woman turned crisis into opportunity. Four years later, her grassroots initiative is transforming the lives of thousands of girls nationwide.

A lockdown spark that lit a movement

When the pandemic forced schools across Tanzania to shut down in 2020, Dorcas Bahati Mgogwe saw more than just a disruption to education — she saw a generation of girls at risk of being left behind.

Raised by a single mother, Bahati knew firsthand how education can change the trajectory of a young woman’s life. But when her younger sister became a teenage mother, she saw how easily that opportunity could be lost.

“During COVID-19, I realised how urgent it was to offer mentorship, education, and reproductive health knowledge to girls,” Bahati recalls. “That’s how the Girls First Initiative (GFI) began.”

What started as informal conversations with young girls has since evolved into a nationwide movement reaching over 12,000 girls and young women across Tanzania.

Breaking barriers through dialogue

Tackling reproductive health education in conservative communities came with challenges.

“At first, people were suspicious,” Bahati says. “Parents and leaders resisted discussions about topics they found uncomfortable.”

To overcome that resistance, GFI adopted a community-first approach. The organisation held listening sessions, involved men and local leaders, and used real-life stories to build empathy.

“We earned trust by showing respect,” Bahati explains. “Over time, mindsets began to shift, and communities started to support us.”

From savings to sustainability

In the early days, Bahati had little more than determination — and her own savings. A small grant from Crew4All provided a vital boost, while schools and local leaders offered space and logistical support.

“That early trust was everything,” Bahati reflects. “It opened doors and helped us later attract partners like the UNDP.”

Today, GFI delivers scholarships, digital literacy classes, entrepreneurship workshops, and reproductive health sessions. Through its Girls Network Tanzania, the organisation connects young women with mentors and leadership opportunities, helping them take charge of their futures.

Bridging the digital divide

Access to technology remains a significant barrier, particularly for girls in rural areas. To bridge that gap, GFI developed Msichana Kwanza (“Girl First”) — an offline learning and mentorship platform that delivers educational resources to remote communities.

“We can’t talk about empowerment without access,” Bahati says. “Msichana Kwanza ensures no girl is left behind, even without the internet.”

Balancing grassroots needs with national policy

GFI’s success lies in its ability to blend community engagement with institutional partnerships.

“We start by listening,” Bahati says. “We co-create programmes with local leaders and formalise partnerships through memorandums of understanding with schools, health providers, and local authorities.”

This approach ensures the organisation’s work aligns with Tanzania’s national strategies for education, gender equality, and youth empowerment.

Financial independence for women

Like many non profits, GFI faces the challenge of sustaining its work financially. To tackle this, Bahati launched Taa ya Maisha (“Light of Life”), a one-year vocational and entrepreneurship programme for marginalised women.

“It’s designed to reduce donor dependency,” she says. “We equip women with business and financial literacy skills so they can become self-sufficient and support others.”

The resilience behind the mission

As a young woman leader, Bahati has faced her share of scepticism.

“I’ve been underestimated,” she admits. “Some male leaders question my capacity because of my age. But I draw strength from my mother’s resilience and from the girls we serve. Every challenge only fuels my determination.”

Empowering Africa’s next generation

For Bahati, the future of Africa lies in its girls.

“When you invest in girls, you invest in entire communities,” she says. “GFI’s goal is to build confidence, leadership, and opportunity so girls can drive Africa’s growth. Empowering girls isn’t charity — it’s strategy.”

From a lockdown idea to a national movement, Dorcas Bahati Mgogwe’s Girls First Initiative shows how one determined voice can inspire a generation — and redefine what empowerment looks like in Africa.

Africa Must Act Decisively to Defeat Cholera

Cholera remains Africa’s most urgent public health threat, yet it is a preventable disease. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reports that since the beginning of 2025, 23 countries have recorded nearly 240,000 cases and more than 5,200 deaths. Alarmingly, fatalities this year have already exceeded the total number recorded in 2024.

This is not just a health crisis — it is a crisis of inequality, infrastructure, and political will. Inadequate access to clean water and sanitation, compounded by conflict and climate change, continues to fuel outbreaks. Communities across Sudan, Chad and South Sudan, for example, are facing accelerated transmission amid displacement and fragile health systems.

But there is reason for cautious optimism. On August 26 in Lusaka, Zambia, Africa CDC and the World Health Organization launched a Continental Cholera Response Plan — a six-month initiative that seeks to eliminate the disease by 2030. Championing the plan is Zambia’s president, Hakainde Hichilema, who has mobilised commitments from African Heads of State for stronger investment, cross-border cooperation, and vaccine access.

The plan prioritises rapid, coordinated responses through a joint incident management team, backed by both technical expertise and political leadership. Crucially, it will also establish an African Continental Task Force on Cholera Control to align countries with global targets and strengthen national preparedness.

Africa has defeated public health threats before, from Ebola to COVID-19. Cholera should not continue to claim lives in the 21st century. With decisive leadership, investment in water and sanitation, and continental solidarity, Africa can move closer to a cholera-free future. The cost of inaction, measured in thousands of preventable deaths, is simply too high.