Catalysing LT-LEDS implementation in Africa: Insights, bottlenecks, and solutions from country experiences

This report examines how African countries are advancing from the design to the implementation of their Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). It draws on case studies from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as extensive desk research and comparative analysis, to identify the main enablers and bottlenecks shaping LT-LEDS implementation across the continent.

The analysis focuses on four interlinked dimensions that determine implementation effectiveness:

• Institutional architecture, including  governance frameworks, mandates, and coordination mechanisms;
• Technical and human capacity, including modelling, data, and knowledge systems;
• Financial readiness, including financing strategies, budget integration, and private sector engagement; and
• Coordination and partnerships, including mechanisms for multi-stakeholder collaboration and external support.

Across these dimensions, the findings reveal that while African countries have made notable progress in developing institutional and policy frameworks for long-term climate action, they continue to face significant barriers in operationalizing them. Several countries identified strong legal anchoring and high-level political support as key contributors to success. However, limited resources, fragmented mandates, and high staff turnover continue to weaken institutional effectiveness across much of the continent.

Technical and human capacity gaps persist as one of the most consistent obstacles. Many countries depend heavily on external consultants for modelling and scenario development, which limits knowledge retention and national ownership. Nonetheless, hybrid and innovative models that combine international expertise with national consultants demonstrate promising avenues for building sustainable capacity. Similarly, data and information management systems remain underdeveloped, hindering effective monitoring and adjustment of LT-LEDS targets.

The financing dimension presents the most pervasive challenge. Despite an increase in global and regional climate finance flows, the scale, accessibility, and composition of available funds remain misaligned with Africa’s long-term needs. Few LT-LEDS include costed investment plans or mechanisms for tracking climate-related expenditures. Innovative efforts being conceptualised and rolled out in countries across the continent highlight emerging progress, and offer avenues for bridging the profound financing gap that persists.

External partnerships continue to underpin much of Africa’s LT-LEDS landscape, providing vital analytical, financial, and capacity-building support. However, fragmented, time-bound engagements and limited transfer of knowledge often constrain their long-term impact. Strengthening the programmatic coherence of these partnerships, and ensuring alignment with nationally defined priorities, will be critical to sustaining progress.

The lessons emerging from this assessment point to the central importance of political leadership, institutional continuity, capacity retention, and integrated planning. Countries that align their LT-LEDS with NDCs, NAPs, and broader development plans reported greater ease in building ownership and coherence. Similarly, embedding financing and coordination functions within Ministries of Finance or Planning can help link long-term strategies with annual budgets and medium-term development cycles.

The report concludes with a set of recommendations disaggregated by stakeholder type, recognising that LT-LEDS implementation requires a concerted effort across multiple actors. National governments are encouraged to strengthen institutional mandates, financing functions, and policy alignment; regional bodies to promote peer learning and shared data systems; and development partners to transition from short-term project support to multi-year, capacity-oriented cooperation. Civil society, academia, and the private sector also play indispensable roles in sustaining local ownership, mobilising investment, and supporting continuous learning.

Overall, the findings highlight that while the implementation of LT-LEDS in Africa remains constrained by systemic institutional, technical, and financial barriers, countries are developing innovative, context-specific solutions that demonstrate the continent’s growing leadership in climate action. Sustained political commitment, predictable finance, strengthened technical capacity, and coordinated partnerships will be essential to translating these strategies into transformative, long-term development outcomes.