The Adaptation Accelerator Hub

Across the globe, climate impacts are intensifying, not only through more frequent storms, floods and droughts, but also via slow-onset impacts such as rising seas, saltwater intrusion and shifting ecosystems. For developing countries at the frontline, adaptation is no longer just a defensive response: it must drive transformational change, reshaping economies, infrastructure and social systems to safeguard lives and livelihoods while steering development onto resilient and forward-looking pathways. 

Initially announced at the G7 Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministerial Meeting under Italy’s Presidency in 2024 and formally launched at COP29 in Baku, the Adaptation Accelerator Hub (AAH) is a global initiative to fast-track climate adaptation where it’s needed most. By aligning with the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and the UAE-Belém Work Programme under the UNFCCC, the Hub supports countries in translating National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into concrete, investment-ready plans and projects that respond to the world’s most pressing adaptation priorities.   

Led by the Government of Italy in alignment with the development objectives of the Mattei Plan for Africa, with UNDP as the partner agency, the AAH supports developing countries – particularly those most vulnerable to climate change – to accelerate climate adaptation, helping translate national priorities into bankable, finance-ready initiatives that can drive systemic, long-term resilience. 

While many countries have defined urgent adaptation priorities, accessing the right combination of technical support, institutional capacity and finance remains a key barrier to implementation. The AAH was created to help close this gap – not by adding new structures, but by aligning, integrating and scaling what already exists. The Hub operates as a strategic enabler, helping countries and partners move from planning to delivery. 

What does the Adaptation Accelerator Hub do and how is it different? 

The AAH supports climate-vulnerable developing countries, to build coherent, investment-ready systems for adaptation by: 

• Strengthening national institutions and coordination mechanisms, tailored to the country’s level of maturity and sectoral priorities.
• Preparing pipelines of bankable adaptation projects, ready to attract public and private finance.
• Providing targeted technical assistance, including gap assessments, governance support, and enabling tools.
• Empowering financial and technical intermediaries (for example MDBs, regional banks, private sector, philanthropies and platforms) to act as long-term partners and agents of systemic transformation.
• Promoting inclusive, locally led approaches, with a strong focus on gender equality, social equity and knowledge integration.
• Facilitating alignment and complementarity, not duplication – coordinating across governments, donors, climate funds and implementing partners to create coherent, country-owned investment frameworks. 

What makes the AAH different is its focus on investment readiness, country-owned platforms and strategic alignment, rather than creating new parallel systems. Instead of delivering standalone projects or replacing national institutions, the Hub strengthens existing national systems, aligns partners and finance, and accelerates the move from plans to implementation. UNDP brings deep technical expertise and a global network of partners to the Hub, mobilizing knowledge, building capacity and fostering connections between national institutions and global sources of support. 

Working alongside the NAP Global Network, NDC Partnership and multilateral development banks, the AAH is helping build more coordinated and effective investment across the adaptation landscape, that also opens doors to private sector engagement. At its core, it reflects a strong commitment to global solidarity, supporting vulnerable countries to build lasting resilience in the face of a changing climate. 

Driving engagement and impact through strategic communications 

To maximize its impact and amplify progress, the AAH prioritizes strategic communications, co-creation and continuous dialogue. The Hub fosters shared ownership at every level through the active engagement governments, donors, technical partners and financiers.

By promoting outcomes, including success stories, lessons learned and measurable results, the Hub aims to inspire confidence, replicate best practices and catalyze further investment. At the same time, the Hub is committed to raising awareness about the urgent need for scaling investment in adaptation and the role of NAPs and NDCs in catalyzing investment readiness, towards closing the adaptation gap, helping to build a broad coalition of support for resilient, climate-smart development.