PACJA 2022-2025 GUARD AFRICA

In 2024, PACJAs GUARD Africa Project made significant strides in strengthening national climate action through its support of 12 Designated National Platforms (DNPs) across countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Gabon, and Cameroon. These platforms led impactful initiatives including policy advocacy for inclusive climate financing, alignment of national climate goals with local development priorities, and capacity building for civil society organizations (CSOs). PACJA also amplified grassroots voices through media campaigns and global events like COP28, enhancing visibility and influence. A major milestone was the operationalization of the Climate Justice Impact Fund (CJIFA), which began channeling climate finance to grassroots communities with a strong emphasis on gender equity and local ownership. The fund gained credibility through the involvement of high-profile champions, including Dr. Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi. Building on these achievements, PACJA expanded its influence through high-level forums, parliamentary engagement, and regional collaboration. It played a leading role in shaping Africas climate position at events such as the UN Civil Society Conference and the African Union Summit. Youth engagement was also a priority, with the Nairobi Summer School and youth-led campaigns like YOFAFA advocating for adaptation finance. PACJAs work was instrumental in shaping Africas stance on key issues such as the Loss and Damage Fund and the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Through campaigns like Keep Your Promise and strong engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), PACJA held governments and institutions accountable for climate commitments. Internally, the organization aligned its 2024 strategy with its long-term framework, fostering cohesion across its country platforms. The projects evaluation confirmed its strategic alignment with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2063, and highlighted its efficiency, with a 98.5% budget absorption rate. Despite challenges in accessing climate finance at the community level, the GUARD Africa Project was deemed a successful and scalable model. Sweden, a long-standing partner, committed an additional 50 million SEK for the next phase (20252027), with a clear phase-out strategy to ensure sustainable transition.

GUARD-AFRICA project is regional in scope that utilizes country-level initiatives and influence to leverage impact at scale across various other countries as well as at regional scale. The overall objective of the initiative is to mobilize and empower African civil society to secure environmental and climate justice for all peoples in Africa. The four outcome areas of the intervention are: 1) National, Sub-regional and Regional Policies, Plans and Programmes are influenced by evidence based CSO narratives and policy analyses and advice, 2) Accountable national government and private sector institutions that uphold Business and Human Rights principles including implementation of NDCs in line with the Paris Agreement, 3) Public awareness raised and African CSOs are mobilized and empowered to engage in post-Paris climate change dialogues and response strategies in the context of SDGs, and 4) Enhanced capacity of PACJA organs, national platforms, and dedicated sector-based initiatives to be effective catalysts for galvanization of action for resilient development in Africa.