Hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, the regional UrbanShift Forum for Africa brought together cities and stakeholders from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mali, Congo and many more countries. Participants represented national and local governments, finance institutions, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and private sector entities focusing on sustainable urban development. The Forum served as a platform for exchanging best practices, fostering collaboration, networking, and advancing climate ambition, commitments, and international agenda targets specific to the African context. With most of the world's projected urban growth expected to occur in Africa, the Forum focused on resilience, urban planning, and infrastructure development. During the forum the GPSC introduced the 2025 Urban Nature Program work plan, detailing upcoming initiatives to help cities incorporate nature into their urban planning and infrastructure

 

The Forum featured various sessions, including but not limited to the following:

 

High-level Opening Ceremony (open to all): Welcome remarks followed by an inspiring lineup of speakers who reflect on the progress made so far and outline the path ahead to create green, resilient, and thriving cities.

 

Forum Plenary Sessions (open to all): A series of carefully curated and impactful sessions on climate science, climate finance, and business engagement, featuring key experts and thought leaders.

 

Site Visit (open to all, limited spaces): Practical demonstration of climate action.

 

Investors Roundtable (closed-door): A focused discussion on financing strategies for decarbonising urban energy systems and accelerating financial flows to close the energy infrastructure gap.

 

Mayoral Gatherings (closed-door): Gatherings with mayors in the region to discuss priorities and opportunities.

 

Parallel Sessions (open to all): A variety of sessions focused on accelerating the deployment of climate-resilient infrastructure amidst rapid urban growth in Africa, delivered by a wide range of partners.

 

Networking Opportunities (open to all): Engage with peers, experts, and stakeholders during dedicated networking sessions and informal gatherings.