Zanzibar. The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) will soon have a permanent home under the African Union Commission (AUC), following a landmark resolution made during a meeting in Zanzibar.
Delegates agreed that hosting the AGN Secretariat at the AUC would enhance institutional stability, technical capacity, and political coordination across all 54 African countries participating in UN climate talks.
“This move will give Africa a stronger, more unified voice at global climate negotiations,” reads the resolution adopted at the AGN Strategic Meeting held from April 28 to 30, 2025.
The AGN, which currently operates without a formal institutional base, has long called for stable financial and administrative support. Embedding the Secretariat at the AUC is expected to streamline funding, logistics, and policy alignment with continental bodies such as AMCEN and CAHOSCC.
The meeting mandated the AGN Chair to convene a task force with representatives from all African sub-regions to oversee the transition. Once operational, the Secretariat will support all African states equally—regardless of size or political alignment—through research, training, and negotiation coordination.
Delegates also reaffirmed that the Secretariat’s functions must be inclusive, transparent, and rooted in Africa’s collective climate interests. The goal is to ensure that Africa negotiates as a bloc on critical issues such as finance, adaptation, and energy transition.
This institutional milestone comes as Africa prepares its strategy for COP30 in Brazil. It reflects a broader push to improve internal coordination and negotiation effectiveness at a time when climate diplomacy is becoming more complex and fast-paced.