The Africa Climate Summit is expected provide an opportunity for African leaders to support big ideas that drive climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Many stakeholders are keen to see solutions and action oriented goals laid out in the Nairobi Declaration which is scheduled to be adopted on the final day of the summit.
The summit which will be opened by President William Ruto, will run from Monday September 4 to 6 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
Over 30,000 delegates including over 25 heads of state and government are expected to attend the event.
Kenya's special Climate Envoy Ali Mohamed said they are certain the declaration will have an inclusive resolution that represents all stakeholders and aspirations of the continent.
"The summit will present an opportunity for our leaders to set a bold and ambitious vision for a green economic transformation, that optimises the continent’s abundant human and natural resources and integrates enhanced climate adaptation and mitigation outcomes," he said.
Nigeria's founder and director of Africa Policy Research Institute Olumide Abimbola said Africa has the minerals required to power the green transition.
He said what we are seeing is African governments looking for ways to make sure the minerals are not just exported out of the continent, but value addition happens on the continent.
"I'm hoping that we see this message come out strongly during the African Climate Summit. But beyond that, I'm hoping to see deeper discussions regarding concrete plans for how to make this happen and the roles that external actors can play here," Abimbola said.
Green Protector, Global Coordinator of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition CEO Ineza Umuhoza, said the Summit is an opportunity for Africa to demonstrate an inclusive and effective approach to climate policy.
She said the approaches should centre the voices of young people and local communities.
"Crucially, the summit must also lay the groundwork for operationalising a new standalone Loss and Damage Fund at COP28, backed by new, additional and accessible finance that doesn't increase debt for African countries," she said.
With the Africa Climate Summit being a key moment that will lay the ground for COP28, there is anticipation that the continent must see more commitments.
The commitments should be towards the delivery of the $100 billion (Sh14.5 trillion) funding target and more support from Multilateral Development Banks for climate adaptation.
For example, an estimated $630 billion (Sh91.5 trillion)of private capital per year is available for investment in food systems.
Building on the Paris Summit, Africa needs a commitment from both governments and the public sector to mobilise funds for the huge shortfall in climate finance required for agriculture.
There is expectation for the summit to underlie the need to recognise and support the critical role played by Africa’s smallholder farmers.
The smallholder farmers are the backbone of Africa’s agriculture sector towards realising food sovereignty for the continent.
Chilufya Chileshe, a food policy expert said with the global food crisis continuing to impact millions in African, it is imperative that our approach to the challenge transcends mitigation.
"At the Africa Climate Summit, we need a discourse that gives precedence to climate adaptation. This discussion should be focused on communities most impacted by climate change," he said.
"This entails not just recognising their suffering, but also driving substantial funding towards helping them to adapt to the changing world," Chileshe added.
"The discussion must also have special focus on smallholder farmers as a critical group."