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Common Purpose
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6 August 2025
Advancing Global Solidarity on Climate Challenge
Next generation leaders from the global North and South come together to work on pragmatic approaches to the environmental crisis in a bespoke Climate Challenge Leadership Programme by the Africa Finance Corporation in partnership with Common Purpose.
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As the global climate crisis deepens, the pressure to reduce carbon emissions and restore biodiversity continues to mount. Yet, a critical imbalance remains between the starting positions of the global South and global North - an imbalance that must be acknowledged and addressed.
The continent of Africa contributes less than 3.8% of global carbon emissions, yet it is among the hardest hit by climate change. Droughts, floods, and heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, while many of the world’s highest-emitting nations remain relatively shielded from these effects - diminishing the sense of urgency and delaying coordinated action. Bridging these disparate realities is essential to any meaningful progress in tackling climate change.
In response, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) - the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider - is once again partnering with Common Purpose, a global leadership development organisation, to run the Climate Challenge Leadership Programme in 2025.
This pioneering initiative will support a new cohort of 40 emerging leaders from across Africa and around the world. The programme aims to foster long-term collaboration between leaders in the global North and South, equipping them to find innovative, inclusive solutions to the world’s pressing environmental challenges.
“In order to address the climate crisis, we need leaders who can cross boundaries and collaborate to transform the systems that support our way of life,” said Adirupa Sengupta, Group Chief Executive of the Common Purpose Charitable Trust. “The next generation of leaders will be at the heart of tackling these issues and we want to equip them to lead a different conversation between the global North and South. AFC is a natural partner for us because of their knowledge of, and ambition for, Africa and the global South.”
Now in its latest iteration, the Climate Challenge Leadership Programme builds on over a decade of Common Purpose’s innovative leadership experiences, which have brought together global changemakers to tackle the most pressing climate issues facing society. In 2025, the focus is squarely on addressing climate equity by forging new leadership links across continents and sectors.
“The programme will be fertile ground for innovative solutions to be crafted by the next generation of leaders from Africa and beyond,” said Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC. “For far too long, Africa has been viewed by the rest of the world as a place of ‘problems’ – and yet Africa holds the solutions to many of the fundamental problems facing the world today, particularly in relation to climate change. This is why we are supporting Common Purpose in the development of a rising generation of leaders from Africa and beyond who are enabled and empowered to offer global solutions to the climate challenge.”
Applicants to the 2025 Climate Challenge Leadership Programme should be emerging leaders with at least five years of professional experience, representing diverse sectors and regions across Africa, the wider global South, and the global North.
By the end of the programme, participants will have developed their ability to Lead Beyond Authority - an essential skill in solving complex global challenges. They will also build meaningful relationships across borders, sharpen their analytical and creative thinking, and strengthen their influence as changemakers within an international, cross-sector network.
Applications are now open via the Common Purpose website: https://commonpurpose.org/the-afc-fellowship
“In order to address the climate crisis, we need leaders who can cross boundaries and collaborate to transform the systems that support our way of life,” said Adirupa Sengupta, Group Chief Executive of the Common Purpose Charitable Trust. “The next generation of leaders will be at the heart of tackling these issues and we want to equip them to lead a different conversation between the global North and South. AFC is a natural partner for us because of their knowledge of, and ambition for, Africa and the global South.”
Now in its latest iteration, the Climate Challenge Leadership Programme builds on over a decade of Common Purpose’s innovative leadership experiences, which have brought together global changemakers to tackle the most pressing climate issues facing society. In 2025, the focus is squarely on addressing climate equity by forging new leadership links across continents and sectors.
“The programme will be fertile ground for innovative solutions to be crafted by the next generation of leaders from Africa and beyond,” said Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC. “For far too long, Africa has been viewed by the rest of the world as a place of ‘problems’ – and yet Africa holds the solutions to many of the fundamental problems facing the world today, particularly in relation to climate change. This is why we are supporting Common Purpose in the development of a rising generation of leaders from Africa and beyond who are enabled and empowered to offer global solutions to the climate challenge.”
Applicants to the 2025 Climate Challenge Leadership Programme should be emerging leaders with at least five years of professional experience, representing diverse sectors and regions across Africa, the wider global South, and the global North.
By the end of the programme, participants will have developed their ability to Lead Beyond Authority - an essential skill in solving complex global challenges. They will also build meaningful relationships across borders, sharpen their analytical and creative thinking, and strengthen their influence as changemakers within an international, cross-sector network.
Applications are now open via the Common Purpose website: https://commonpurpose.org/the-afc-fellowship
About AFC
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.
Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 45 member countries and has invested over US$15 billion in 36 African countries since inception.
Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 45 member countries and has invested over US$15 billion in 36 African countries since inception.
Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe, Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org
Common Purpose
Common Purpose is a leadership development organization that specializes in cross-boundary leadership. The not-for-profit organization runs programmes in over 100 cities worldwide. Founded in 1989, Common Purpose has over 135,000 alumni globally. The organization’s leadership development programmes inspire and equip people to work across boundaries. This enables them to solve complex problems in organizations and in society.
Find out more:
Alison Coburn, Global Environment Lead, Common Purpose Charitable Trust
Mobile: +44 (0)7852 914 670
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