A practical guide for municipal and regional officials
Local governments are on the frontline of climate change. Across sub-Saharan Africa, municipalities and regions are facing growing climate-related risks such as floods, droughts, extreme heat, and water stress, while often working with limited financial and institutional capacity. This toolbox has been developed as a practical guide for municipal and regional officials, local planners, and partners supporting local governments. It aims to make climate finance easier to understand and navigate by explaining key concepts, common funding structures, access routes, and practical steps that can strengthen local readiness.
The toolbox also highlights the role of democratic governance in climate finance. Transparency, participation, accountability, and equality are essential for building trust, reducing risks, and ensuring that climate finance responds to the needs of communities most affected by climate change. Rather than offering one fixed solution, this toolbox provides guidance, examples, and checklists that can be adapted to different local contexts. We hope it will support local governments and their partners in developing credible, inclusive, and finance-ready climate responses.