Dr Eugene Itua, the Executive Director of the recently launched African Green Economy and Sustainability Initiative (AGESI), has rallied leaders to harness the potential of the continent’s natural resources.
AGESI, as an institute, made a significant debut at the Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS 2), where it positioned nature as the continent’s most valuable economic asset.
Itua, also the CEO of Natural Eco Capital, delivered a powerful message at a key side event, urging leaders to shift their perspective and see nature not as a financial burden but as a massive economic opportunity valued at an estimated $1.4 trillion annually.
Speaking on a panel titled ‘Developing the Finance Stack for Restoring African Ecosystems’, Itua argued that Africa’s core challenge is not a lack of resources but the absence of a sophisticated “finance stack”.
He proposed a strategic combination of grants, concessional loans, and market instruments like carbon and biodiversity credits to unlock the continent’s immense green wealth.
“For too long, we have framed financing nature as a burden,” Itua stated. “But let’s be honest: this isn’t a cost—it’s our single greatest economic opportunity. The African Development Bank agrees. That $1.4 trillion is not a dream. It’s a number. And it’s ours to claim.”
A key highlight of the event was the introduction of AGESI’s Green Opportunity Index (GOI), a data-driven tool designed to guide investors and policymakers toward the most promising green economy ventures across Africa.
The GOI underscores AGESI’s mission as a “do tank” rather than just a think tank, focused on providing concrete solutions for sustainable development.
The event, which was moderated by Theresa Reisch of FSD Africa, featured other prominent voices in conservation finance, including representatives from The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, and the UNDP.
The collective discussion reinforced the consensus that Africa must take the lead in developing scalable, nature-based solutions. AGESI’s successful debut has firmly established it as a key player in this critical agenda.
AGESI’s momentum at the summit was further solidified through a high-level bilateral meeting with leaders from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The discussions, which included Dr. Matthias Z. Naab and Dr. Zeynu Ummer of the UNDP, signalled strong potential for future collaboration to advance shared goals for a sustainable and resilient Africa.
