Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency
By Wakhungu Andaje
The Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) has appointed Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), to its Supervisory Board.
The move is expected to place African priorities at the heart of global adaptation decision-making.
While accepting the appointment, Ms. Bekele-Thomas said she was honoured to join a distinguished board chaired by the 4th President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, alongside Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth and Opportunity Division at the Gates Foundation, and the Mayor of Miami, Francis X. Suarez.
“I am honoured to accept this appointment at such a pivotal moment for Africa and the world. As Africa continues to face accelerating climate impacts that disproportionately affect our continent, Africa’s voice must be central to global adaptation governance,” said Ms. Bekele-Thomas.
Through this platform, she added, “we will ensure that our implementation priorities, development pathways, and proven solutions shape the decisions and financing that will determine our collective climate future.”
The appointment comes at a critical time when the world is approaching a climate breaking point, with Africa bearing the most severe impacts despite contributing the least to the crisis.
GCA President and Chief Executive Officer Professor Patrick Verkooijen noted that as the organisation enters the next phase of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP) 2.0, Ms. Bekele-Thomas’s leadership will ensure that Africa’s resilience-building agenda remains at the forefront—particularly in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém and throughout the decisive decade of climate action ahead.
“Under her stewardship as CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, she has championed locally led adaptation and institutional capacity building for climate-resilient development across the African continent,” he said.
Professor Verkooijen added that her proven track record in advancing intergovernmental coordination and translating policy into action has made Ms. Bekele-Thomas an indispensable voice on the Supervisory Board.
Her appointment strengthens Africa’s position as a driving force in shaping the global adaptation agenda, ensuring the continent’s resilience-building efforts receive the political leadership, coordination, and financing they require.
