Since its inception, the island of Mauritius has hosted the headquarters of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH). Now in its 10th year, it is apt that donors, development partners, advisers, and Commonwealth Secretariat stakeholders will meet in Port Louis on 11-12 September 2025 to determine strategic priorities and opportunities for CCFAH and reflect on the progress over the last decade.
CCFAH helps small and other vulnerable states secure funding to tackle climate change-related issues by embedding long-term national, regional and thematic Climate Finance Advisers in government departments and partner institutions across the Commonwealth to support with climate finance proposal applications, capacity building, policymaking, as well as knowledge generation and sharing.
The CCFAH Steering Committee Meeting will be jointly chaired by Ravi Shankar Sonea, Permanent Secretary in Mauritius’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and Suresh Yadav, the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Director of Climate Change and Oceans.
In welcoming CCFAH’s key stakeholders to the meeting, the meeting’s Co-Chair, Ravi Shankar Sonea, said:
“For many countries, particularly for SIDS and those facing the brunt of climate change, climate finance is more than an abstract consideration, it is a crucial lifeline. We are not only proud to host CCFAH here, but we are indeed beneficiaries of the support that is offered. As the organisation celebrates a decade, we continue to stress the need for reliable and accessible finance to fuel the growth and resilience that underpins our economies. Protection of our environment, that nurtures our people and prosperity, is vital.”
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The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Suresh Yadav commented that it was serendipitous that the 10th steering committee meeting is being held in Mauritius. He said:
“It is fitting that this milestone meeting takes place in Mauritius — home of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub. Over the past decade, the Hub has delivered real impact for small and vulnerable member countries, thanks to the support of our partners, Australia, Canada and the UK and the commitment of Mauritius as host. As we look ahead, this meeting is about charting a new path to ensure CCFAH continues to drive transformative, sustainable climate finance solutions across the Commonwealth.”
While in Mauritius, the Steering Committee will also consider CCFAH’s role amid the intensifying impacts of climate change, geopolitical shifts, a rapidly changing international aid environment and the development of a third generation of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions. The meeting is also happening while the Commonwealth Secretariat’s new five-year strategic plan 2025 - 2030 is being approved. CCFAH’s alignment and positioning for delivery is on the agenda for the steering committee meeting.
CCFAH was created in 2015 following a mandate by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta that year. The governments of Australia, Canada, Mauritius and the United Kingdom have generously supported CCFAH’s operations over the past ten years.
Over the ten years that CCFAH has been in operation, it has:
- Worked with Commonwealth countries on proposals that have secured US$499 million in climate finance.
- Delivered 160 training programmes, reaching over 3,400 officials, with a focus on sectoral pipeline development and integration, proposal writing, and climate finance readiness.
- Deployed 41 advisers across 21 Commonwealth member countries and regions.
- Represented and supported member states in international forums, advocating for fair and inclusive access to climate finance and climate justice.
CCFAH’s operations are guided by its steering committee, which provides strategic and policy guidance. In line with its terms of reference, the steering committee meets at least once a year; the upcoming meeting in Mauritius will be its 7th meeting.
