The African Climate Foundation

What The African Climate Foundation does

The African Climate Foundation (ACF) is a nonprofit climate foundation founded in 2020 and headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, positioning itself as the first African-led, regional climate foundation working at the nexus of climate and development. It operates as a programme-based organisation rather than a technology or product company, delivering its mandate through five core thematic programmes — Sustainable Finance, Energy Access and Transitions, Adaptation and Resilience, Green Industrialisation, and International Partnerships — coordinated via country- and regionally-led Climate and Development Investment Platforms. Since 2020 it has supported more than 467 investments totalling approximately US$41.3 million across 35 African countries, with dedicated country programmes in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia and plans to expand into DRC, Rwanda and Ghana in 2025.

The foundation's core "products" are structured convenings and platforms rather than software: these include the African Food Systems Transformation Collective (a research network), the Green Industrial Development Expert Panel (GIDEP, an African-led expert panel co-established with the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance), the Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI, a multi-stakeholder finance mechanism committee), and the Africa Energy Futures Hub announced at COP29. Its GTM motion is relationship-led rather than sales-led: ACF works alongside African governments and financiers to shape enabling policy, strengthens civil society and labour coalitions, supports researchers building evidence for African negotiating positions, and partners with businesses to embed equity and local ownership into the transition.

Its business model is philanthropic grant-making. ACF raises capital from philanthropic foundations, development finance institutions, and international partners (visible funders include Rockefeller Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, ClimateWorks Foundation, French Development Agency, and the Audacious Project at TED) and deploys it through grants, technical assistance, project preparation, and convening. Specific donor identities, funding allocations, and internal financials are not publicly disclosed. Day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director Saliem Fakir, with strategic oversight from Chairman Carlos Lopes, who was appointed Special Envoy for Africa by the COP30 Presidency in 2025.

Name

The African Climate Foundation

Legal name

African Climate Foundation

Website

https://africanclimatefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The African Climate Foundation is a Cape Town-based, African-led nonprofit foundation founded in 2020 that deploys philanthropic capital, convenes stakeholders, and shapes policy to drive climate and development outcomes across Africa, serving governments, civil society, researchers, and businesses through country-led investment platforms in six African nations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Philanthropy and Development Finance

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH)

Keywords

• Climate philanthropy funding
• Climate development grants
• Energy transition programmes
• Climate adaptation programmes
• Sustainable finance initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grants and Donations: The African Climate Foundation operates as a climate foundation that raises funds from philanthropies, development finance institutions, and international partners to support climate and development initiatives across Africa. Since 2020, they have supported more than 467 investments totalling approximately US$41.3 million across 35 countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The African Climate Foundation is a grant-making nonprofit foundation that provides philanthropic funding, technical assistance, and capacity-building support to African governments, civil society organizations, researchers, and businesses working on climate and development priorities. It operates through five core programmes (Sustainable Finance, Energy Access and Transitions, Adaptation and Resilience, Green Industrialisation, and International Partnerships) delivered via country- and regionally-led Climate and Development Investment Platforms. Since 2020, the foundation has supported more than 467 investments totalling approximately US$41.3 million across 35 African countries.

Product overview

The African Climate Foundation is a climate foundation operating as a programme-based organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of strategic programmes focused on climate and development outcomes: five core thematic programmes (Sustainable Finance, Energy Access and Transitions, Adaptation and Resilience, Green Industrialisation, and International Partnerships) delivered through a Climate and Development Investment Platforms approach. The organization also operates several named initiatives including expert panels, research collectives, and advisory committees that support capacity building, policy development, and knowledge sharing across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• African Food Systems Transformation Collective: A network connecting African food systems experts with advocacy and policy bodies to drive research and funding decisions toward resilient and sustainable food systems transformation.
• Green Industrial Development Expert Panel (GIDEP)
• Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI)
• Adaptation and Resilience Investment Platform (ARIP)
• Green Industrial Development Expert Panel (GIDEP)

Products and services

• Sustainable Finance Programme
• Energy Access and Transitions Programme
• Adaptation and Resilience Programme
• Green Industrialisation Programme
• International Partnerships Programme
• Climate and Development Investment Platforms

Quantifiable outcome

• 467 investments totalling approximately US$41.3 million across 35 countries since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape TowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025Joint establishment of Green Industrial Development Expert Panel (GIDEP) bringing together African experts on green industrialisation alongside Global South experts for collective knowledge-building. Analysis moves from expert panels into policy briefs and negotiating rooms.
• Konexa (Nigeria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2024Strategic collaboration supporting Nigeria's first private renewable electricity trading platform. ACF provided critical project preparation assistance including feasibility studies and capacity-building, helping Konexa secure $16.29 million in MIGA guarantees and $18 million in blended finance.
• ReNew2030coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2024Partnership with coalition dedicated to driving energy revolution. ReNew2030 aims to scale global wind and solar capacity to stay on track for limiting warming to 1.5°C while enhancing energy security and creating jobs.
• Chinese Government Institutions (Centre for International Economic and Technological Cooperation, China Testing and Certification International Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Three-year Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement on Sino-African Green and Low-carbon Industrial Development. Agreement covers projects, research, capacity-building, standardisation, certification, and organisation of events. First formal collaboration with Chinese government.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Collaboration during BRICS Forum on Partnership on New Industrial Revolution. Part of broader engagement on green industrialisation with high-level officials from BRICS nations.
• Cainiao Holding Group (Alibaba)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Partnership in BRICS Green Manufacturing Partnership Campaign to build green supply chains, enhance green development capacities, and open international markets for sustainable products.
• Vale Asia DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Partnership in BRICS Green Manufacturing Partnership Campaign for green supply chains and sustainable industrial development.
• Allied Talent Partners (ATP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2024MOU for climate-focused talent marketplace across Africa. ATP to connect climate-related projects and businesses with skilled professionals and experts. ATP incubated by Three Cairns Group.
• Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2024Multi-stakeholder committee with experts from Nature Finance, Climate Investment Funds, KPMG, Systemiq, Standard Bank, African Development Bank, EBRD, and Slaney Advisors to explore innovative financial mechanisms for adaptation and resilience portfolios in Africa.
• Trade Union Federations (COSATU, FEDUSA, NACTU, SAFTU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Partnership to support establishment of Just Transition Labour Centre. Centre will provide technical expertise and support to trade unions for navigating economic and plant-level restructuring from energy transition. Housed at Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS).
• Natural JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2024Support for historic public debate on climate change and energy transition in Senegal with 11 representatives from major political parties ahead of presidential elections.
• Namibian Environmental Investment Fund (EIF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2024MOU for supporting Namibia's Green Hydrogen Programme. Focus areas include technical assistance and implementation support in sustainable finance, green hydrogen, PtX derivatives (Power-to-Chemicals), and green industrialisation. Supporting Namibia's target of 10-12 million tonnes per annum hydrogen equivalent by 2050.
• Climate philanthropy ecosystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2023Strong engagement with climate philanthropy including Bloomberg Philanthropies, ClimateWorks Foundation, and others for Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative targeting 1.2 terawatts of energy potential.
• DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Co-host of African Food Systems Transformation Collective inception meetings. Research network bringing together African food systems researchers and activists to address climate change impacts on African food systems.
• Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at LSEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Joint release of first comprehensive study on implications of EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on Africa. Report raises concerns about economic ramifications and administrative hurdles to market access.
• IntellidexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2023Produced report series 'Funding social justice in the energy transition' investigating financing needs for social outcomes in South Africa's energy transition. Report examines how to mobilise private capital for just transition.
• Oxpeckers Center for Investigative Environmental JournalismminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2023Partnership for Mpumalanga #PowerTracker project tracking financial flows in renewable power generation and planned coal plant decommissioning. Trains investigative environmental journalists on climate crisis reporting.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on From Climate Risk to Resilience country report series covering Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, unpacking economic impacts of climate change and advocating for coordinated approach to funding and implementing national adaptation measures.
• Energy for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch Africa Energy Futures Initiative for energy planning and modelling capabilities within African universities and stakeholders.
• Nature FinanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI) providing expertise on sustainability-linked sovereign debt.
• Standard BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI) providing expertise on energy and infrastructure in East Africa.
• African Development BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI) providing regional perspective from East Africa.
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI) providing expertise on climate adaptation and nature finance.
• KPMGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI) providing expertise on climate risk, adaptation, nature and decarbonisation.
• SystemiqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Steering Committee on Adaptation Investment (SCAI) providing expertise through Blended Finance Taskforce.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• European Climate Foundation: European Climate Foundation is a major Europe-focused climate grantmaking foundation supporting advocacy, policy and finance work. It shares ACF's grantmaking foundation model and climate mandate but is geographically focused on Europe rather than Africa, making it a regional peer in structure rather than geography.

Direct peers

• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF): CIFF is one of the world's largest climate-focused philanthropic funders, deploying grants and investment capital across energy transition, climate, and development themes in Africa and emerging markets. It is comparable to ACF in mission (climate grantmaking for development) and African footprint, though with materially larger capital.
• Climate Investment Funds: CIF is a multilateral climate finance vehicle focused on transformational, country-led investments in clean technology, renewable energy, and adaptation in developing countries. CIF is a Steering Committee member alongside ACF on adaptation investment and operates a comparable Climate-Smart Cities programme, making it a strong functional peer.
• Green Climate Fund: GCF is the world's largest dedicated climate fund for developing countries, channelling grants and concessional finance to support mitigation and adaptation in Africa and other regions. It is the closest multilateral peer to ACF in mandate and geography, although with dramatically larger capital scale.
• ClimateWorks Foundation: ClimateWorks Foundation is a global climate philanthropy platform that makes grants and deploys capital to accelerate climate solutions. Like ACF, it operates as a grantmaking foundation rather than a direct investor, and is a co-launcher of the Africa Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative alongside ACF.

Emerging players

• Wallace Global Fund: Wallace Global Fund is a US philanthropic foundation focused on climate, environment, and democracy, with grantmaking in Africa and developing countries. It is comparable to ACF as a climate-focused grantmaking foundation working internationally, though at smaller scale than the largest incumbents.

Broad incumbents

• African Development Bank (AfDB) Climate Action Window: AfDB's climate finance and investment platforms operate at continental scale across Africa, financing energy transition, adaptation, and green industrialisation. ACF partners with AfDB via SCAI; AfDB is a much larger multilateral peer in mission though its operating model is concessional lending rather than grantmaking.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies is a major global philanthropic vehicle funding climate, energy, and public health initiatives, including co-founding AREMI with ACF and ClimateWorks. As a much larger and broader philanthropy, it is an incumbent funder and convening counterpart rather than a direct competitor for African-led mandate.
• The Rockefeller Foundation: Rockefeller is a major US philanthropy that funds climate, energy transition, and development programmes globally. It is a recent disclosed funder of ACF and co-launcher of the Africa Energy Futures Initiative, making it a core institutional counterpart though it operates across many themes beyond climate.
• Hewlett Foundation (Climate and Clean Energy Program): The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation funds climate, clean energy, and related international development themes through major grantmaking programmes. It is comparable to ACF as a grantmaking foundation with climate focus, but is much broader in scope and not Africa-specific.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/africanclimatef
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-climate-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The African Climate Foundation