Djibouti and UK Explore New Climate Financing Avenues at COP31

On the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, Djibouti's Minister of Economy and Finance, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, met with Rachel Kyte, the UK's Special Representative for Climate Change. The meeting, which took place on November 10, 2026, focused on British support for Djibouti in three priority areas: climate financing, debt management, and private capital mobilization.

The discussions involved exploring cooperation possibilities with several British development finance institutions, including British International Investment (BII), the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), and UK Export Finance (UKEF). Minister Dawaleh highlighted Djibouti's vulnerability to climate change impacts and stressed the need for accessible and adapted financing to support adaptation projects, energy transition, and sustainable development.

The Djiboutian minister emphasized the importance of financing mechanisms that consider the debt constraints of vulnerable countries and the role of private investment in supporting public efforts. The meeting was attended by Mohamed Awaleh Ahmed, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, and Aden Houssein Abdillahi, Djibouti's Ambassador to Türkiye, demonstrating the government's coordinated approach to climate action.

The two parties agreed to continue their exchanges to concretize the identified cooperation avenues. This meeting is part of the bilateral consultations conducted by the Djiboutian delegation on the sidelines of COP31, aiming to strengthen international partnerships for climate action financing. The talks reflect Djibouti's efforts to secure support for its climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

Minister Dawaleh and his delegation sought to leverage the UK's expertise and resources to address Djibouti's climate change challenges. The country's participation in COP31 underscores its commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change and promoting sustainable development. The discussions with the UK delegation are expected to yield tangible outcomes for Djibouti's climate action plans.

The meeting between Minister Dawaleh and Kyte highlights the growing importance of international cooperation on climate change issues. As a vulnerable country, Djibouti is seeking innovative financing solutions to support its transition to a more resilient and sustainable development path. The UK's engagement with Djibouti on climate change issues demonstrates its commitment to supporting global efforts to address this pressing challenge.

The follow-up discussions between Djibouti and the UK are expected to focus on implementing the agreed-upon cooperation areas. This will involve technical-level engagements to explore specific financing options and investment opportunities that can support Djibouti's climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The outcomes of these discussions will be crucial in shaping Djibouti's climate resilience and sustainable development agenda.

Key points

• Djibouti and the UK are exploring new avenues for climate financing, debt management, and private capital mobilization to support the country's climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.