Climate: “Local governments must be at the forefront”
The West African Development Bank (BOAD), the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union, and the German and French cooperation agencies also participated in the event. Several sessions were dedicated to debate and proposals on the role of African local governments in developing recovery plans, in the context of the health crisis and the climate emergency. “Local governments must be at the forefront in acting on climate change and accelerating climate ambition”, said Payadowa Boukpessi, Togo’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralisation and Local Authorities.
The Lomé Forum on the resilience and climate ambition of local governments in Africa: an arena for discussion among African cities
The elected representatives were able to discuss their efforts and their challenges in climate planning with the various technical and financial partners attending. The main barriers highlighted were specifically in relation to the difficulty of mobilising local resources and of accessing climate finance. “We need to do all we can to build the capacities of local teams and to make town councillors and the population more aware of climate change issues,” commented Makana Korodowou Ahini, mayor of the commune of Tchaoudjo 1 in Togo.
Build the capacities of local teams and make town councillors and the population more aware of climate change issues 
Despite these barriers, cities are attempting to develop responses to climate challenges, and they used the opportunity of this event to share with their peers the solutions they are implementing in their own regions. These solutions include developing decentralised cooperation activities and partnerships with civil society organisations (CSOs), and mobilising international partners.
Localisation of climate and energy issues: a key factor in stepping up climate action
The impacts of climate change are a tangible reality for local governments. To address the consequences of climate change for cities and local governments in West Africa, and provide a tailored response to the needs of their populations, local and regional governments need to be involved in implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Moreover, dialogue between the State and local governments is crucial for localising the NDCs: “We need to work with local governments to ensure national climate ambitions reflect local needs and ambitions,” emphasised Laure Kuhn Bruma, Coordinator of the GCCA+ West Africa project, during the Forum.
Work with local governments
The CoM SSA initiative, launched by the European Union in November 2015 and operating in Togo, Mali, Kenya and Uganda, is part of this framework. It is designed to support capacity building for cities and regions in meeting the challenges of climate change and of access to reliable, sustainable and affordable energy. CoM SSA provides this support in the form of help for local governments in developing Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs). Expertise France has chosen to support Togo’s 29 CoM SSA signatory cities to integrate climate and energy issues into their Municipal Development Plans, in synergy with the GCCA+ West Africa project. This national support was launched alongside the Lomé Forum, in the form of an initial group session on 9 June providing information on climate issues and CoM SSA tools, and practical workshops for mayors and focal points from the signatory municipalities.
“The GCCA+ West Africa project implemented by Expertise France, under the leadership of ECOWAS and in partnership with CILSS [the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel] is also working in Togo on integrating climate issues into the preparation of Municipal Development Plans and on identifying monitoring indicators for the country’s NDC at the municipal level. This is part of the GCCA+ West Africa project’s support for Togo in operational implementation of its commitments under the Paris Agreement,” Laure Kuhn Bruma explained to the Forum participants.
Amplifying capacity building and climate investment within local governments
In addition to recognising climate issues, cities and local governments need to design development plans that integrate climate action. The current process of revising the NDCs thus represents an opportunity to review the positioning of local governments in Africa in implementing the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030. “Towns and local governments represent a direct link between climate action and the needs of the population. The regions have full legitimacy to act on climate and energy access issues. This must be reflected in local plans,” declared François Albert Amichia, Chair of the UEMOA Council of Local Authorities.
We need to improve local government access to climate finance
However, local governments are underfunded and only manage to mobilise a fraction of the investments needed for climate action. In this context, capacity building and funding for local economies (including through the development of green bond markets) are key factors in providing an adequate response, and in enabling local governments to play their part in achieving the country’s goals for climate action. “We need to improve local government access to climate finance. Through its cities’ development fund, BOAD is supporting local governments in developing their climate policy and strategy, and in mobilising resources to implement them,” explained Serge Ekoue, Chair of BOAD, during the Forum.