High Level Event - Leveraging Fintech to Close the Adaptation Gap: Showcasing Digital Innovations for Climate Resilience

Africa Climate Summit: High Level Event - Leveraging Fintech to Close the Adaptation Gap: Showcasing Digital Innovations for Climate Resilience

Who: African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Ethiopia
When: 9 September 2025, 15:30–17:00 EAT; 
Where: T1, Addis International Convention Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Register here 

As climate impacts intensify across Africa and funding gaps persist, fintech—combining financial services with digital technology—has emerged as a critical tool for closing the adaptation gap. By expanding access to finance, enabling targeted insurance, and powering early-warning systems, fintech offers a lifeline to vulnerable communities on the frontline of the climate crisis.

Event Description
This high-level panel will explore how fintech is transforming climate adaptation across Africa. From mobile-based agri-insurance for smallholder farmers to AI-driven pest alerts and digital payment solutions for climate-smart agriculture, fintech innovations are already delivering resilience to last-mile communities. The session will also spotlight how governments, private investors, and development institutions can overcome infrastructure gaps, regulatory hurdles, and fragmented ecosystems to scale these solutions.

With COP30 on the horizon, where climate justice, finance, and digital inclusion are set to dominate the agenda, this dialogue will generate actionable insights and mobilize support for scaling fintech-enabled adaptation across Africa.

Programme

15:30 – 15:45 | Opening Remarks and Framing

• Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President, African Development Bank Group (TBC)
• H.E. Taye Atske Selassie, President of Ethiopia (TBC)

15:45 – 15:55 | Keynote Address

• H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda

15:55 – 16:05 | Case Spotlight: Practical Innovation in Action

• Chapi Core Tech Zambia: FinTech-Climate Resilience Integration for Women Farmers, YouthADAPT

16:05 – 16:30 | Panel Discussion: Scaling Adaptation through Fintech and Ecosystem Support

• Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development & International Cooperation, Arab Republic of Egypt (TBC)
• Prof. Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Republic of Zimbabwe
• Dr. James Mwangi, Group CEO, Equity Group Holdings Plc 
• Ethiopis Tafara, Regional Vice President, Africa, International Finance Corporation (IFC) 
• Ms. Jacinda Njike, Co-Founder Ambition Loop; Africa Finance Lead, Climate Champions Team (confirmed)
• Mr. Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, Head of GSMA Foundation (confirmed)

16:30 – 16:50 | Interactive Dialogue with Participants
Moderated open floor for reflections, questions, and national examples

16:50 – 17:00 | Closing Reflections and Next Steps Toward COP30

• Dr. Alex Mubiru, Director General, East Africa, AfDB Group