Fundación Avina continues to strengthen its presence on the African continent through key initiatives that promote climate action, the circular economy, and collaboration from the Global South. In recent months, we participated in strategic spaces in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Ghana, with the aim of creating the conditions for alliances that can drive transformative impact. We reaffirm our commitment to a strategy of action in Africa, fostering strategic partnerships that promote effective climate action, inclusive democratic innovation, and a fair and regenerative economy. These meetings reflect our vision of building collaborative solutions with global impact from and with the Global South. 

MapBiomas: Training in the Democratic Republic of Congo 

From August 25 to 29, we held an intensive workshop in Kinshasa, in collaboration with OSFAC (Central Africa Forest Satellite Observatory) and the core group of the MapBiomas network. More than 20 key actors were trained in the MapBiomas methodology and tools to map land use and land cover in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a priority country for the expansion of this initiative in Africa. 

This process represents a fundamental step in the strategy to expand MapBiomas in Latin America and Africa and reinforces our commitment to building local capacity for sustainable land management. 

In preparation for the workshop, between February and March, we organized three webinars that brought together about 60 participants from universities, civil society organizations, and public entities. These sessions allowed us to share the principles of the MapBiomas approach and engage strategic actors around the initiative. 

MapBiomas is a global, multi-institutional network made up of universities, NGOs, and technology companies that monitors land use and land cover transformations and their impacts. In 2025, the network celebrated its tenth anniversary, providing the most updated and detailed spatial land use database available for a country in the world. 

Second African Climate Summit (ACS2) 

We also participated, from September 8 to 10, in the Second African Climate Summit (ACS2), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event, co-organized by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission, focused on the theme: “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.” 

Our Africa Strategy Lead, Amadou Mbodj, represented Fundación Avina at this key platform to discuss Africa-led climate solutions, the transition from an aid model to an investment model, and the building of a unified continental voice towards COP30. 

International Alliance of Waste Pickers Meeting 

We also took part in the regional meeting of waste picker movements in Accra, Ghana, organized by the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP). Fundación Avina was invited as an allied organization to share the experience of supporting the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Waste Pickers (RED LACRE) and to contribute to the organizational process of the African Waste Pickers Network. This space was key to strengthening the circular economy in Africa and fostering the exchange of knowledge between waste picker networks from the Global South.

4th African Forum on Business and Human Rights

From October 7 to 9, Fundación Avina will participate in the 4th African Forum on Business and Human Rights in Lusaka, Zambia, aligned with the African Union’s 2025 theme on justice and reparations. Fundación Avina will lead the official panel “Voices of Workers,” alongside partners from the Fund for Democracy and Work, featuring SAWPA (informal waste pickers, South Africa), ACMU (digital content moderators, Kenya), and ACCA (African Coalition for Corporate Accountability).