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This article was produced with the support of AUDA NEPAD
Ms. Bekele-Thomas has accepted the appointment and joins a distinguished board chaired by H.E. Macky Sall, 4th President of the Republic of Senegal, alongside Mr. Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth & Opportunity Division at the Gates Foundation, and Mr. Francis X. Suarez, Mayor of Miami.
“I am honoured to accept this appointment at such a pivotal moment for Africa and the world,” said Ms. Bekele-Thomas. “As we face accelerating climate impacts that disproportionately affect our continent, Africa’s voice must be central to global adaptation governance. Through this platform, we will ensure that our implementation priorities, development pathways, and proven solutions shape the decisions and financing that will determine our collective climate future.”
The appointment comes at a critical juncture as the world approaches a climate breaking point, with Africa bearing the most severe impacts despite contributing least to the crisis.
GCA President and CEO Prof Patrick Verkooijen said ‘As GCA enters the next phase of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) 2.0, Ms. Bekele-Thomas’s leadership will ensure that Africa’s resilience-building agenda remains at the forefront—particularly in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém and the decisive decade of climate action ahead.’
Under her stewardship, AUDA-NEPAD has championed locally led adaptation and institutional capacity building for climate-resilient development across the continent. Her proven track record in advancing intergovernmental coordination and translating policy into action makes her an indispensable voice on the Supervisory Board.
The appointment reinforces Africa’s position as a driving force in shaping the global adaptation agenda, ensuring the continent’s resilience-building efforts receive the political leadership, coordination, and financing they demand.
