Dr. Charway Reflections from the ACRP West Africa Hub Workshop: Strengthening Civil Society Engagement with the AfDB
- frontlineclimateac
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
From 13–14 May 2025, I had the opportunity to represent Frontline for Climate Action at a regional capacity-building workshop organized by the African Climate Reality Project (ACRP) West Africa Hub. The workshop brought together civil society actors from across the region to deepen engagement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and explore strategies for influencing development finance for climate and development impact.
The training served as a timely platform to understand the AfDB’s operational systems, including its accountability mechanisms, advocacy entry points, and country-level strategic frameworks. The sessions focused on practical strategies to navigate and influence AfDB-financed projects and ensure they truly reflect the needs and priorities of local communities.
Understanding the Independent Recourse Mechanism (IRM)
A key highlight of the workshop was a session on the AfDB’s Independent Recourse Mechanism (IRM), led by Stephanie Amoako, a seasoned development finance accountability expert. The IRM provides a formal channel for individuals, communities, and civil society organizations to raise concerns about AfDB-funded projects.
The IRM has three core functions:
Compliance Review to assess whether AfDB’s policies have been followed;
Problem Solving to facilitate dialogue and resolve disputes;
Advisory Services to improve institutional practice.
To be eligible, complaints must relate to AfDB-financed projects and be submitted within 24 months of project closure. Stephanie highlighted several critical considerations before filing a complaint, such as ensuring the security of affected persons, evaluating organizational capacity, and assessing the potential for broader advocacy.
Strategic Influencing and Advocacy
Another compelling session was facilitated by Chibeze Ezekiel, who shared strategies for effective advocacy with multilateral institutions like the AfDB. He underscored the importance of:
Building relationships with key stakeholders;
Leveraging Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) and other AfDB planning tools;
Identifying low-hanging fruits and quick wins;
Focusing on organizational niches and comparative strengths;
Engaging in informal spaces and bilateral meetings to build influence.
Chibeze encouraged civil society organizations to begin advocacy with constructive dialogue and positive framing before raising concerns. He also advised exploring downstream opportunities within AfDB-funded implementation structures, where civil society can engage indirectly but effectively.
Country-Level Barriers and Shared Experiences
During the discussions, Rita Kigbara from Nigeria highlighted how bureaucratic and political obstacles—such as lack of government clearance—can restrict civil society access to international climate finance. This served as a reminder of the country-specific hurdles many CSOs face, and the need for reforms to make access more equitable and inclusive.
Reflections from Frontline for Climate Action
As a representative of Frontline for Climate Action, I found the workshop both enlightening and empowering. It reinforced the need for civil society organizations to understand not just the technical components of climate finance, but also the institutional pathways that shape decision-making and accountability.
Our work at Frontline for Climate Action centers around ensuring that climate solutions are grounded in justice, community voices, and transparency. Engaging with mechanisms like the AfDB’s IRM and influencing tools such as Country Strategy Papers allows us to advance that mission at scale.
Conclusion
The ACRP West Africa Hub workshop was an important learning opportunity that reaffirmed the crucial role of civil society in holding financial institutions accountable while shaping climate-responsive development. Strengthening our capacity to engage with the AfDB is a necessary step toward ensuring that investments in climate and development truly serve those most affected.
Dr. Daniel Ako Charway
VolunteerFrontline for Climate Action
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