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More than $3 billion in new financing commitments have been secured to support climate action and sustainable development projects across the Congo Basin, one of the world’s most important ecological regions.
The pledges were announced during a high-level donor roundtable held in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, on May 26 alongside the African Development Bank Group’s Annual Meetings.
The funding will help finance 63 low-carbon projects under the Congo Basin Blue Fund, a regional mechanism designed to promote climate resilience, environmental protection, and sustainable economic growth.
The Congo Basin is the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon.
Spanning several Central African countries, it covers around 300 million hectares of forests and peatlands and plays a critical role in regulating the global climate.
The region absorbs and stores billions of tons of carbon while supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.
Congolese President Denis Sassou N’Guesso, who also serves as Chair of the Congo Basin Climate Commission, welcomed the commitments and described them as a significant step forward for the region’s climate ambitions.
“Together, following your specific commitments, we have just taken a further step towards fulfilling the statutory mandate of the Congo Basin Blue Fund, which is eagerly awaited by the states and their populations,” Sassou N’Guesso said during the meeting.
The Congo Basin Climate Commission, established under the African Union framework, is leading efforts to strengthen climate action and develop a sustainable blue economy across its 17 member states.
The Commission has identified a priority investment program of 70 projects requiring an estimated $5.72 billion in financing.
Among the major commitments announced, the African Development Bank Group pledged an initial $250 million to support implementation of projects under the regional climate initiative.
Speaking on behalf of newly elected African Development Bank President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, the institution’s Director General for Central Africa, Léandre Bassolé, said the countries of the Congo Basin should not shoulder the burden of protecting a globally important ecosystem alone.
“The roundtable bringing us together today represents a real opportunity for us all to redouble our efforts to mobilise resources for the Congo Basin,” Bassolé said.
“For its part, the African Development Bank will resolutely continue its commitment alongside the countries of the Congo Basin and all its partners to mobilise all available financing instruments.”
Additional support came from several international and regional institutions, with the World Bank Group committing $1 billion to the initiative, while the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), which hosts the Blue Fund, announced financing worth $600 million for low-carbon infrastructure projects.
The African Chamber of Commerce in Scandinavia pledged $600 million in grant funding, while the Green Climate Fund committed $320 million toward the financing package.
The African Sovereign Fund also announced plans to provide $500 million in financial guarantees for both public and private sector projects between 2026 and 2028.
The Blue Fund for the Congo Basin was first launched during the COP22 climate conference in Marrakech in 2016 as a financial mechanism aimed at supporting sustainable development across the region.
Since then, it has evolved into one of Africa’s flagship climate finance initiatives, bringing together countries seeking to balance environmental conservation with economic development.
The projects targeted under the latest funding round cover a broad range of sectors, including ecosystem restoration, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable fisheries, water management, tourism, research, innovation, and environmental health.
According to the Congo Basin Climate Commission, the investments align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Marrakesh Declaration, and the climate commitments of participating countries.
The latest pledges are expected to be followed by additional fundraising efforts targeting governments, development finance institutions, private investors, philanthropic organizations, and other development partners.
Climate experts have long described the Congo Basin as one of the planet’s most valuable natural carbon sinks. Alongside its role in biodiversity conservation, the rainforest is increasingly viewed as a strategic asset in global efforts to combat climate change and limit rising temperatures.
With billions of dollars now being mobilized, regional leaders hope the Congo Basin Blue Fund can accelerate the transition toward greener and more sustainable economies while strengthening the protection of one of the world’s most critical environmental resources.
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