BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6af49bde8d5d6 DTSTART:20261114T110000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20261114T120000Z LOCATION:Antalya COP31 Venue\, Türkiye SUMMARY:COP31 side event: From transfer to transformation - trade and techn ology partnerships for climate-resilient development in African LDCs CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:African least developed countries (LDCs) require affordable cli mate technologies to implement their nationally determined contributions. Yet\, they face debt distress\, limited fiscal space\, expensive capital\, and broader macroeconomic constraints\, and technology gaps identified in the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism and its Technology Needs Assessments rare ly translate into funded projects\, sustained technical assistance\, or lo ng-term capacity development. Trade cooperation and climate diplomacy can help enable technology transfer\, joint research and innovation\, and skil ls partnerships between local firms and international technology providers . A growing range of initiatives\, including the LDC Green Industrialisati on Facility (LDC-GIF)\, the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGI I)\, the African Continental Free Trade Area and its industrial policy pri orities\, and the Belém Technology Implementation Programme\, provides us eful ground for exploring innovative cooperative approaches. Against this backdrop\, APRI and TESS will convene a side event to explore how trade an d technology partnerships can better support the transfer\, co-development \, and deployment of technologies for climate-resilient development.Object ivesIdentify the kinds of trade and technology partnerships that can best respond to LDC priorities for technology development\, transfer\, adaptati on and deployment\, while strengthening local technological and productive capabilities. Unpack how initiatives such as LDC-GIF\, AGII and the AfCF TA work together to support technology diffusion\, knowledge and skills tr ansfer\, cross-border partnerships\, regional capabilities and participati on in climate-related value chains. Identify the practical design feature s that can make technology partnerships more durable and effective\, and e xplore how COP31 and relevant UNFCCC processes help connect LDC technology priorities with wider trade and technology partnerships without duplicati ng existing initiatives. Link to COP32The event will highlight the implem entation hurdles that Least Developed Countries in Africa face in accessin g technology\, and weaknesses in the UNFCCC’s Technology Mechanism in tr anslating needs assessments into real projects. The discussion will highli ght how trade and technology partnerships could close this gap. Moreover\, the discussions will unpack how existing mechanisms\, including AfCFTA\, the Belém Technology Mechanism\, and the LDC Green Industrialisation Faci lity offer innovative cooperation approaches. The outcome of the event pro vides a strategic blueprint and priorities for Ethiopia’s Presidency on how trade and climate diplomacy offers an alternative pathway to accelerat ing technology transfer in Africa.PanelistsH.E Muhammadou M.O. Kah\, Ambas sador Extraordinary &\; Plenipotentiary of The Gambia to Switzerland an d other international organizations in Geneva Luz Maria de la Mora\, Dire ctor Division on International Trade and Commodities\, UNCTADChristophe Be llmann\, Head of Policy Analysis and Strategy\, Forum on Trade\, TESSNompu melelo Obokoh\, Head of Climate Change and Food Security Unit (CCFSU)\, WI PO GreenSerwah Prempeh\, Head\, Just Green Technology Transitions Programm e\, APRI (Moderator)<\;p>\;African least developed countries (LDCs) re quire affordable climate technologies to implement their nationally determ ined contributions. Yet\, they face debt distress\, limited fiscal space\, expensive capital\, and broader macroeconomic constraints\, and technolog y gaps identified in the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism and its Technology Ne eds Assessments rarely translate into funded projects\, sustained technica l assistance\, or long-term capacity development. Trade cooperation and cl imate diplomacy can help enable technology transfer\, joint research and i nnovation\, and skills partnerships between local firms and international technology providers. A growing range of initiatives\, including the LDC G reen Industrialisation Facility (LDC-GIF)\, the Africa Green Industrialisa tion Initiative (AGII)\, the African Continental Free Trade Area and its i ndustrial policy priorities\, and the Belém Technology Implementation Pro gramme\, provides useful ground for exploring innovative cooperative appro aches. Against this backdrop\, APRI and TESS will convene a side event to explore how trade and technology partnerships can better support the trans fer\, co-development\, and deployment of technologies for climate-resilien t development.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Objectives<\;/h4>\;<\;ul>\;& lt\;li data-list-item-id="\;e59bebe94e6425be162df77820b7bc019\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/cop31-side-event-transfe r-transformation-trade-and-technology-partnerships-climate DTSTAMP:20261111T164622Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR