Africa Trains Diplomats for Global Carbon Market Success

The African Union (AU), in collaboration with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), has initiated a training program for 80 ambassadors and senior diplomats to strengthen Africa's negotiating capacity in the global carbon market. This training, held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a significant step towards implementing the Africa Action Plan for the carbon market, which was adopted by the AU Assembly in 2025.

The initiative aims to ensure that African countries derive greater economic and environmental benefits from international carbon trade, particularly in light of the decisions made under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Fatou Diouf, head of communications at ACBF, stated that the seminar focuses on enhancing technical negotiation skills amid increasingly complex international climate negotiations.

The program also explores African-led carbon credit projects and compliance with voluntary carbon markets, emphasizing the need for strong governance and legal frameworks to ensure that local communities benefit from carbon markets. The AU's action plan seeks to position Africa as a key player in the global carbon economy.