Rita Effah: Advancing climate resilience from the ground up, one project at a time
“Voices of ACCF” shines a light on the people driving climate action across Africa. Through brief interviews, beneficiaries, partners, and team members share their experiences and perspectives, highlighting the tangible impact of the Africa Climate Change Fund on communities and the environment.
Meet Rita Effah, Coordinator of the ACCF. Rita holds an MSc in Forest Science from Yale University’s School of the Environment and a BSc in Natural Resources Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology.
Could you briefly present the main mission and current priority areas of the ACCF?
The ACCF’s core mission is to support African countries in their transition towards climate-resilient, low-carbon development while addressing gender inequality. Our current priorities include scaling up access to climate finance, supporting the development and implementation of national climate strategies, and promoting gender-transformative communityled climate action. The Fund focuses on empowering vulnerable communities, strengthening institutional capacities, and fostering innovative solutions to Africa’s climate challenges.
Which achievement of the Fund makes you the proudest since its creation?
One of the achievements I am most proud of is the successful implementation of projects that have directly benefited local communities, particularly women and youth. A recent example is the Towards Climate Resilient Shea Communities in Togo and Burkina Faso Project, which we had the opportunity to
supervise. This project implemented by the Global Shea Alliance, focused on empowering women in sheaproducing communities by helping them organize into cooperatives for both the sustainable management of shea parklands and improved economic resilience. The project also established links between these cooperatives and private sector companies to enhance market access and advocate for better pricing. It is a truly impactful effort—one that will stay with me for a long time. It is also deeply rewarding to see how the ACCF has grown into a trusted partner for many stakeholders in Africa’s climate finance landscape.
How is the ACCF adapting to address new climate challenges or the emerging needs of African countries?
ACCF remains agile and responsive to emerging climate challenges by actively listening to our beneficiaries and partners. We have expanded our focus to include new thematic areas such as gender-transformative climate resilience, mitigation and innovative financing mechanisms. We also leverage digital platforms to enhance project selection, management and transparency. Collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders remains a priority to ensure that our financing is both relevant and impactful.
What are your ambitions for the future of the ACCF, particularly in terms of innovation and support to beneficiaries?
Looking ahead, my ambition is for the ACCF to grow into a leading fund that catalyzes impactful climate action across Africa. We aim to increase our resources, expand our reach to more countries and communities, and pioneer innovative, efficient approaches to delivering climate finance. I also hope, the ACCF will strengthen our capacity-building efforts, forge new partnerships, and ensure that the voices of women, youth, and local actors remain central to our decision-making and project design