Stakeholders discuss support fund raising mechanism in Libreville
By Ngalame Elias
Congo Basin Climate Fund is seeking to Mobilize CFA3.006 trillion, to finance 63 priority projects across countries in the sub-region to drive climate mechanisms.
Congo Brazzaville was the meeting point for international donors on May 26, 2026 as the Republic of Congo hosted this major financing roundtable for the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin.
The event aims to mobilize $5.32 billion, about CFA3.006 trillion, to finance 63 priority projects across member countries of the regional climate mechanism.
The roundtable takes place alongside the African Development Bank Group’s 2026 Annual Meetings and operates under the high patronage of Congolese President Denis Sassou N’Guesso, who also chairs the Congo Basin Climate Commission. In a statement released to the press, organizers described the gathering as “a major event dedicated to mobilizing resources for one of the planet’s most strategic ecosystems.”
The Blue Fund for the Congo Basin is presented as “an innovative financial mechanism dedicated to promoting sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient development” across Congo Basin countries.
The targeted projects cover a wide range of sectors, including sustainable ecosystem management, coastal protection, sustainable fishing and aquaculture, blue infrastructure, water and sanitation, tourism, research, innovation, and prevention of health, environmental, and epidemic risks.
The mechanism brings together 17 member countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Sudan, Tanzania, Chad, Zambia, and Morocco. According to the Blue Fund’s official website, the mechanism was “created by 17 African countries” and currently includes a pipeline of 254 projects valued at about $10 billion.
The Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) occupies a central role within the financing structure. According to the statement, BDEAC serves as the Blue Fund’s financial agent and oversees financial management, resource mobilization, and the allocation of funding toward eligible projects.
Organizers say the mandate “strengthens BDEAC’s position as a leading institution for sustainable development financing in Central Africa.” The Brazzaville roundtable follows an earlier preparation phase focused on structuring the project portfolio. BDEAC previously organized 43 projects valued at $3.6 billion, covering sectors such as sustainable natural resource management, climate-resilient infrastructure, fisheries, ecotourism, scientific research, and environmental health.
Originally launched during the COP22 climate conference in Marrakech as the financial arm of the Congo Basin Climate Commission, the Blue Fund is now entering what organizers describe as a new phase focused on converting climate ambitions into concrete financing.
In Brazzaville, member states plan to issue “a strong appeal to bilateral and multilateral donors, climate funds, development banks, and private investors.” For supporters of the initiative, the challenge extends beyond financing projects alone. The broader objective is to position the Congo Basin as a strategic ecological asset in the global fight against climate change.
“Investing in the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin means investing in a global public good,” one considered essential for protecting biodiversity and supporting Africa’s economic and social stability.