Webinar Series: Climate Change and Children’s Rights - Integrating Children's Rights in the Planning and Delivery of Climate Action in Africa - Aspirations for the Africa Climate Summit [5 September 2025]

Climate change is considered an emerging issue in the context of human rights and children’s rights specifically. Evidence shows that governments are committed and investing in climate change mitigation and adaptation focusing on broader issues such as sustainable farming, water resources management, community resilience, disasters preparedness and anticipatory action – to improve on economies, livelihoods and health outcomes. Yet, there is no clear evidence of whether and if so, how are governments ensuring investment is focused on child rights and climate change, both in policy formulation or reform, budget allocation and implementation. There is an urgent need in Africa to mainstream a child-rights perspective in climate governance. Children constitute a large portion of the region’s population, and climate shocks threaten their health, development, and prospects. Without prompt action, climate change will entrench inequalities: more children will suffer malnutrition, disease, loss of education, displacement, and other violations of their rights. Millions of children living in informal settlements, rural areas, refugee camps, and conflict-affected regions face increased risks from climate change. The impacts are wide-ranging and devastating: food and water shortages lead to malnutrition and poor health; rising temperatures increase the spread of diseases; extreme weather events disrupt schools and healthcare facilities; and displacement forces children from their homes, exposing them to violence, exploitation, and trauma.

For this edition of the series, we will focus on how governments and all actors must integrate children's rights in the planning and delivery of child-responsive climate actions in the continent: focusing on the Aspirations for the upcoming Africa Climate Summit. It also means mobilizing finance for child-focused adaptation and coordinating cross-border actions for disasters that affect children.

Panellists: 

• Mr. Ronny Cyrano Wang, Child representative, Central Africa Republic
• Dr. Benjamin Mandevere, Principal Climate Change Adaptation Officer, Government of Zimbabwe
• Ms. Samrawit G Damtew, Legal Researcher, ACERWC Secretariat
• Mr. Malama Mwila, Senior Child Rights Advocacy Advisor, Save the Children AU Liaison Office

Moderators: Dr. Rongedzayi Fambasayi / Ms. Pauline Kedogo

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Following registration, participants will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar.

We acknowledge the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) funding the African Children's Charter Project (ACCP), for their generous support in making this webinar possible.