The Green Climate Fund will help African countries ramp up their economic growth in ways that do not exacerbate climate change with the signing today of an agreement with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

The two organizations signed an Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA), a prerequisite for all GCF Accredited Entities to implement GCF-approved projects. AFC was accredited to GCF in July 2015.

AFC intends to leverage its partnership with GCF to further its low carbon emission investments in four key sectors: power, transport, heavy industries and telecommunications.

AFC has already established a track record in financing renewable energy as the lead investor in the first commercial scale public-private partnership wind farm in Sub-Saharan Africa. The USD90 million, 26MW Cabeolica project provides over 20 percent of Cape Verde's power needs.

Oliver Andrews, Chief Investment Officer of AFC, said during the AMA signing the consequences of climate change impacts may seriously impact the successful development of Africa’s economy.

“AFC is therefore highly committed to this partnership with GCF,” said Mr Andrews. “Not only does AFC and the GCF have shared goals, we also have shared values.

“For example, AFC is committed to investing in post-conflict countries and those that face structural developmental challenges. Equally, the GCF also prioritises societies that are highly vulnerable, in particular the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As AFC is also driven by a belief in sustainable economic growth, in every sense this synergy is an excellent recipe for success.”

Pa Ousman Jarju, Director of GCF’s Country Programming Division, said AFC is well placed to support African entrepreneurs explore the vast potential for economic growth across the continent in ways that do not harm the global environment.

“GCF activities are aligned with the priorities of developing countries through the principle of country ownership in climate finance,” he said. “For instance, with the strategic injection of capital, African companies could one day lead the way in generating non-polluting energy for industry and local communities.”

AFC is financing and managing key infrastructure projects across Africa. It has invested approximately USD 4 billion in projects across 28 countries in a wide range of sectors including power, telecommunications, transport and logistics, natural resources and heavy industries.