The African continent is expected to bear a much heavier burden than the industrialized world as its people strive to cope with climate change and its far-reaching impacts on food security, health, energy, migration and conflict. Africa’s vulnerable ecosystem and varied geography, its strong dependence on agriculture, rapid population growth, widespread poverty, and limited capacity and resources will make it difficult for the continent to cope with unanticipated weather events. Against this backdrop, The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) co-hosted “The African Initiative Congress on Climate Change” in partnership with Makerere University and the Salama SHIELD Foundation. Sessions were held over four days and covered topics ranging from assessing regional needs in combating climate change to human, technical and resource mobilization.