The Climate Vulnerable Forum and Vulnerable Twenty Finance Ministers (CVF-V20) Secretariat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Green Development Coalition (IGDC) to strengthen climate investment and promote green development cooperation.

The agreement was signed on November 11, 2026, at the Ghana Pavilion during the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

The signing followed a high-level dialogue on connecting country investment pipelines with green finance, held under the theme, “Shared Future, Shared Prosperity: Aligning Climate Prosperity Plans with the Green Belt and Road”.

The engagement focused on strengthening cooperation between Ghana, the CVF-V20 and China to translate climate commitments into investment-ready projects in clean energy, green industrialisation and sustainable economic development.

In her opening remarks, Managing Director of the CVF-V20 Secretariat, Sarah Jane Ahmed, highlighted the importance of linking national Climate Prosperity Plans to green financing opportunities.

She noted that most of the CVF-V20’s 77 member countries are in Africa and could benefit from China’s commitment under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Action Plan to promote green development and support clean-energy projects across the continent.

She explained that Climate Prosperity Plans set out countries’ investment priorities, while Country Platforms help turn those priorities into bankable projects capable of attracting domestic and international financing.

The dialogue also highlighted the economic opportunities offered by renewable energy, particularly solar power, with emphasis on affordable clean energy, resilient electricity grids and green industrial capacity as key drivers of economic transformation.

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between the Green Development Investment and Financing Partnership on the Chinese side and the CVF-V20 Country Platform system, which is anchored in Climate Prosperity Plans.

Key areas of collaboration include establishing a coordination mechanism at the secretariat level, developing joint investment pipelines, connecting projects with potential investors and identifying and assessing bankable projects in solar, wind, energy storage and grid resilience.

The agreement also provides for cooperation in green industrial development, sustainable trade, technology transfer, local manufacturing and joint research to support climate-resilient economic growth.

Representatives from the Ministry of Finance of The Gambia, the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund and Madagascar also contributed to the dialogue, sharing perspectives on turning national development priorities into viable investment opportunities.

The partnership is expected to strengthen Ghana’s position as a destination for climate investment while deepening international cooperation to support Africa’s green transition.

The initiative also aligns with the government’s efforts to promote sustainable development, expand access to clean energy, mobilise climate finance and create economic opportunities through green investments.

The agreement also underscores the need for climate action to deliver tangible benefits, including jobs, industrial development, energy security and improved livelihoods.

Story by Mawuli Ahorlumegah reporting from the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), Antalya, Türkiye