The Sahara and Sahel Observatory has become a trusted partner for African countries seeking to access climate finance. By acting as a regional implementing entity, it provides both technical and institutional support, helping countries design, prepare, and implement projects that address the dual challenges of adaptation and mitigation. Today, the OSS not only manages projects and programs on the ground but also assists governments in setting up Readiness initiatives to build their national capacities.
Its credibility has been built through successive milestones of accreditation. Recognized by the Adaptation Fund in 2013 and by the Green Climate Fund in 2017, the OSS was re-accredited in 2022, a decision that expanded its scope of action and increased the ceiling of project budgets it can implement. This evolution has significantly enhanced its role as a facilitator of partnerships, a mobilizer of financial resources, and a contributor to the delivery of sustainable development policies and strategies across the region.
Concrete examples illustrate this impact. With support from the Adaptation Fund, the OSS implemented the EURECCCA project in Uganda, helping communities in three watersheds to strengthen their resilience against floods and landslides. In parallel, through the Green Climate Fund, the OSS has guided several countries — including Guinea-Bissau, Libya, and Tunisia — in their preparation for climate finance, ensuring they are better positioned to mobilize resources and scale up action against climate change.
Behind these achievements lies a stronger purpose: to channel climate finance where it is most needed, to protect vulnerable communities, and to transform the fight against climate change into a lever for resilience and sustainable development in Africa.