From May 4–6, 2026, Conakry hosted a strategic training workshop dedicated to strengthening the capacities of potential Direct Access Entities (DAEs) for their accreditation with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Organized by the National Designated Authority (NDA) in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), this event was part of the AU‑AIP Multi‑Country GCF Readiness Programme.
Strong and Complementary Opening Statements
GWP: Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
In his opening remarks, Sidi Coulibaly, GWP representative, emphasized that Guinea has remarkable potential but that access to international climate finance remains a demanding challenge. He stressed the need to co‑create a clear operational roadmap for each entity to move forward toward accreditation.
“This workshop aims to turn this challenge into an opportunity, by deepening the understanding of GCF mechanisms and strengthening synergy between the NDA and national entities.”
NDA: Building a National Climate Finance Architecture
For his part, Mamadou Oury Barry, Executive Secretary of the NDA, highlighted the urgency of establishing a national climate finance architecture. He reminded participants that the absence of accredited entities deprives Guinea of hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
“Each year without a direct access accredited entity, Guinea loses about 450 million dollars in climate finance. This workshop is not general awareness‑raising, but a step toward operational certification.”
He outlined concrete expectations: concept notes aligned with GCF criteria, submission of complete accreditation files, and opening direct access to 120 million dollars by 2030.
Tangible Results
Over three intensive days, participants:
- strengthened their knowledge of fiduciary standards, ESS, and gender policies,
- identified and prioritized institutional gaps,
- developed concrete action plans for each entity,
- validated a national roadmap for accreditation,
- consolidated coordination mechanisms between the NDA and DAEs.
The Voice of Participants
Institutions present expressed their commitment to crossing this strategic threshold. Nanamoudou ONIPOGUI, representative of Access Bank Guinea, stated:
“This workshop allowed us to better understand the requirements of the Green Climate Fund and to transform our ambitions into a concrete action plan. For Access Bank Guinea, this is a decisive step toward direct accreditation and the implementation of climate projects aligned with national priorities.”
Toward a Resilient and Sovereign Guinea
This workshop marks a strategic advance: Guinea now has a clear trajectory to direct access to climate finance. With strengthened institutions and entities on the path to accreditation, the country is positioning itself to transform its climate priorities into bankable investments, serving resilient and sustainable development.
This event illustrates the convergence between the African Union’s commitment, the NDA’s determination, and the support of the GWP: making direct access accreditation to the GCF a lever of sovereignty and climate transformation for Guinea.
