Stakeholders from across the public and private sectors gathered in Kampala for the second edition of the Annual Climate Finance Conference, with a central focus on closing the widening climate finance gap that continues to hinder the countryโs response to worsening climate impacts.
The two-day conference, held at Mรฉstil Hotel on April 1โ2, was organized by the Climate Finance and Sustainability (CFS) Centre at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), in partnership with the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED).
The conference, themed โClosing the Climate Financing Gap in Africa,โ attracted policymakers, financial institutions, climate experts, development partners, and academia.
Participants explored practical measures to mobilize sustainable financing, enhance private sector participation, and align national frameworks with international climate commitments.
One of the core discussions centered on developing tailor-made financial tools such as credit guarantees and blended finance models to reduce investment risk and attract private capital into climate-smart projects. Experts also underscored the need for a national green taxonomy to guide and standardize green finance practices across Ugandaโs financial ecosystem.
Participants further explored how to build institutional capacity in green financing and how to elevate Africaโs participation in the global carbon market. The conference also highlighted the importance of empowering grassroots communities with both funding and knowledge to implement context-specific climate solutions.
Looking ahead, a vital discussion emphasized the need to enhance capacity building for climate finance, stressing that professionals must possess the skills to attract, absorb, utilize, and account for climate funds. It was reiterated that closing the climate finance gap is not only about increasing funds, but also about restructuring systems to ensure access, equity, and long-term impact.
