Policy Updates

A year-long campaign led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured EUR15.5 billion (US$18.0 billion) to mobilize investments in renewable energy across Africa, along with additional commitments in clean energy generation and household electricity access, announced on November 21, 2025.

The EU led the pledging effort with more than EUR15.1 billion (US$17.5 billion), including contributions from multiple EU member states including Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, and Ireland, as well as significant bilateral contributions by European financial institutions and development finance institutions, and estimated mobilized private investment. Alongside the campaign, the African Development Bank has pledged to allocate at least 20% of their 17th replenishment to renewable energy.

The campaign, organized in collaboration with Global Citizen and with policy support from the IEA, aimed to drive public and private investment in supporting Africa's clean energy transition, expand electricity access, and promote sustainable economic growth and decarbonized industrialization. The effort represented a step toward accelerating the global transition from fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy.

Von der Leyen stated that the investment would turbocharge Africa's clean-energy transition, providing millions more people with electricity access and creating opportunities for thriving markets, new jobs, and reliable clean energy.

On November 21, 2025The Global Fund held its Eighth Replenishment Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, co-hosted by the governments of South Africa and the UK on the margins of the G20 Leaders' Summit, securing US$11.3 billion in pledges to sustain the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Partners from more than 30 countries pledged support to save lives and strengthen systems for health, marking the first replenishment held on African soil. The summit demonstrated global solidarity despite fiscal tightening, conflict, and global uncertainty, though total pledges fell short of the ambitious target set in the Investment Case and several donors had yet to confirm their pledges.

The US, the Global Fund's largest donor, committed US$4.6 billion. The UK pledged GBP850 million (US$1.1 billion), while Germany confirmed EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) and Canada pledged CAD1.02 billion (US$723 million). France noted that its support remained unchanged. Spain increased its pledge to EUR145 million (US$167 million), Italy pledged EUR150 million (US$173 million), the Netherlands contributed EUR146 million (US$169 million), and additional pledges came from many other donors. South Africa committed US$37 million, including US$10 million from the private sector. African countries made solidarity commitments totaling US$52 million. G20 member states reached US$9 billion in commitments.

Within the private sector, the Gates Foundation pledged US$912 million, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation pledged US$135 million, and (RED) committed US$75 million. Overall, private sector support reached US$1.3 billion.

On September 15, 2025, a UN Women report revealed that progress on women's rights is stagnating and regressing due to conflict, aid cuts, and a backlash against gender equality, and called on governments at the UN General Assembly in New York to commit to renewed action, highlighting that the US$420 billion needed annually to advance gender equality is a fraction of the US$2.7 trillion spent on the military.

The report, a gender snapshot monitoring progress on the SDGs, found that 676 million women and girls lived near deadly conflict in 2024, the highest number since the 1990s. Women are also more likely to be affected by rising food insecurity. The report projects that climate change could push an additional 158.3 million women and girls into extreme poverty by 2050.

Director of UN Women’s policy division, Sarah Hendriks, contrasted the US$2.7 trillion in annual military spending with the estimated US$420 billion needed to advance gender equality. The report also noted a digital gender divide, which if addressed, could lift 30 million women and girls out of poverty by 2050 and generate a US$1.5 trillion increase in global GDP by 2030. UN Women is calling for renewed commitments at the UN General Assembly, 30 years after the Beijing Declaration.

On August 14, 2025, the resumed 5^th session of the INC-5.2 in Geneva, Switzerland, concluded without reaching a consensus on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, though UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that all member states agreed to continue negotiations.

Negotiations to establish a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution concluded without an agreement. UN officials, including UNEP Executive Director Andersen and UN Secretary-General Guterres, acknowledged the outcome but emphasized that all countries remained committed to the process. The talks, which included delegates from 183 nations and representatives from over 400 CSOs faced significant differences on key issues.

The US delegation supported an agreement that allows for tailored, country-specific solutions to reduce plastic pollution while opposing prescriptive, top-down regulations. INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso and INC Executive Secretary Jyoti Mathur-Filipp reaffirmed their dedication to moving forward and achieving a future agreement.

On July 17, 2025, Italy delivered 800 tons of flour to Gaza under the Food for Gaza initiative in partnership with the WFP, this brings the total of allocated assistance from Italy to Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to EUR110 million (US$129 million) to address the humanitarian crisis and support development.

This shipment, routed via Jordan, follows Italy’s earlier donation of 15 trucks to support humanitarian distribution in the region. The Italy-funded project enables WFP to supply essential foodstuffs, such as sugar and flour, benefiting over one million civilians, particularly by supporting local bread production.

The total includes over 110 tons of direct assistance and EUR30 million (US$35 million) for field operations with international partners. This ongoing commitment highlights Italy’s continued support for vulnerable populations in Gaza.

From June 9-13, 2025, the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference was hosted in Nice, France, ending with over 170 countries adopting a joint declaration committing to urgent measures for ocean conservation and sustainable use.

The event featured 55 heads of state and government as well as upwards of 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, combining this declaration with voluntary pledges, was said to mark renewed global political will for marine protection.

Key commitments included:

• A European Commission pledge of EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for ocean conservation;
• A pledge by French Polynesia to create the world’s largest marine protected area;
• A pledge by New Zealand of US$52 million for Pacific Ocean governance;
• A pledge by Italy of EUR6.5 million (US$7 million) to strengthen Coast Guard surveillance in marine protected areas and on oil platforms;
• A pledge by Spain to establish five new marine protected areas, aiming to safeguard 25% of its marine territory;
• A pledge by Germany of EUR100 million (US$115 million) for Baltic and North Sea munitions clearance;
• The launch of a Coral Bond for reef conservation by Indonesia, WB, and partners.

37 countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, while Canada pledged US$9 million to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Alliance. UN agencies and global partners also launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.

Nineteen more states ratified the Marine Biodiversity Treaty, bringing total signatures to 136 and ratifications to 50 states, plus the EU. Ten more ratifications are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. The 4^th UN Ocean Conference, in 2028, will be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea.

On June 12, 2025, Italy pledged EUR14 million (US$15 million) through UNDP to enhance Moldova’s social protection systems and energy resilience.

The funds will support energy compensation for vulnerable households, modernize social service delivery infrastructure, and advance energy efficiency and digital transformation. This assistance builds on Italy’s ongoing support for Moldova’s European integration and aligns with national priorities for inclusive development.

On May 28, 2025, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed concluded a successful working visit to Italy, meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV, to discuss enhancing collaboration in education, economic reforms, and energy development, strengthening bilateral ties and securing significant development support.

The visit resulted in the signing of agreements in critical areas such as green development, urban infrastructure, and macroeconomic reform, reflecting Italy's continued support for Ethiopia's growth.

Additionally, the Vatican reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ethiopia's educational development, highlighting the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral engagements.

These developments underscore the deepening partnership between Ethiopia and Italy, with a shared focus on sustainable development and regional stability.

On May 16, 2025, Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin announced the renewal and expansion of Italy's financial commitment to the Youth4Climate initiative at the Turin International Book Fair 2025, this renewed funding will support 50 new youth-led climate actions globally through the 2025 Call for Solutions.

Co-led by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and the UNDP, Youth4Climate has already supported over 100 projects in developing economies such as India and Colombia. The initiative also features a digital platform with over 25,000 young climate leaders, offering learning and collaboration opportunities.

Youth4Climate is recognized internationally, including in the 2024 G7 Leaders’ Communiqué, as a model for youth engagement in climate policy. As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, the initiative exemplifies intergenerational cooperation and Italy’s commitment to fostering innovative, youth-driven climate solutions.

On May 14, 2025, Italy reaffirmed its partnership with the African Development Bank AfDB under the Mattei Plan, aimed at fostering economic and strategic collaborations in Africa.

A delegation led by Stefano Gatti, Director-General for Development Cooperation, and Lorenzo Ortona, head of the Mattei Plan Task Force, visited the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan to discuss initiatives supporting sustainable growth and reducing hunger across the continent.

Key highlights included the operationalization of the RPFF, a multi-donor fund with over US$170 million from Italy and the UAE, focused on climate-aligned infrastructure projects. Additionally, Italy and the AfDB plan to invest up to EUR400million (US$433 million) over five years through the GraF, targeting private sector development.

Senior Vice President of the AfDB, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, praised Italy’s commitment, highlighting the Mattei Plan as a model for future cooperation between Africa and developed nations. Italy’s contributions also include EUR299 million (US$324 million) pledged to the AfDB, reinforcing its role in addressing challenges faced by Africa’s most vulnerable countries.