Ambassador Seyni Nafo

Ambassador Nafo serves as Spokesperson for the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), a position that he has held since 2011. He also acts as coordinator of the African Adaptation Initiative (AAI), a continent wide initiative, endorsed by the African Union Assembly, which aims to strengthen adaptation to climate impacts in Africa.

In addition, Ambassador Nafo serves as the High Representative for Climate Change to the Malian President, HE Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, a position that he has held since June 2019.

Over the course of his career, Ambassador Nafo has made significant contributions to Africa, and the developing world, in the fields of climate change, renewable energy and sustainable development. From 2010-2012, Ambassador Nafo served as special adviser to AMCEN President, HE Pr Minister Sangaré of Mali. In 2015 he played an instrumental role in the initiation of the AAI and acted as lead negotiator for the AGN and the G77 plus China Group during the 2015 Paris Conference of the Parties (COP). He also co-chaired the UN Expert Body on Climate Finance (UNFCCC’s Standing Committee on Finance) in 2015 and 2016 and has been advising African Members of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Fund Transitional Committee since 2011. In 2016 Ambassador Nafo served as Vice-President of the Bureau of the UN Climate Talks in Morocco and acted as Chair of the AGN at the UN Climate Negotiations from 2016 to 2017. In 2017 he spearheaded the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) and served as Interim Director of the Initiative’s Secretariat.

Ambassador Nafo also played a leading role in the formulation of other major African initiatives to combat climate change in the Sahel Region, the Congo Basin, on African islands and in its ocean economy. In recognition of his contribution to national, continental and international efforts to combat climate change and support sustainable development, Ambassador Nafo received the honorary distinction of Knight of the National Order of Mali in 2016.