On 31 August, the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) and the Kingdom of Denmark marked a new phase of cooperation to strengthen African Union–United Nations efforts to address the peace and security implications of climate change.
The partnership was formally commemorated during a signing ceremony at UNOAU between the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOAU, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and H.E. Ambassador Sune Krogstrup, Denmark’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, South Sudan, Djibouti and Sudan and Permanent Representative to the African Union.
Under the cooperation, Denmark will provide DKK 3.5 million to support UNOAU’s work on climate, peace and security through December 2028, strengthening cooperation under the UN–AU partnership through policy development, stronger coordination and institutional coherence, translation of analysis into action, and enhanced African engagement in continental and global policy processes.
This is the second UNOAU project supported by Denmark, alongside the ongoing project on Women, Peace and Security. Both projects contribute to strengthening the UN–AU partnership on peace and security.
In his remarks, SRSG Parfait Onanga-Anyanga welcomed Denmark’s support, noting that climate change is increasingly shaping peace and security dynamics across Africa. He underscored the importance of sustained partnerships in supporting African-led solutions, strengthening the link between climate-security analysis, policy and action, and advancing a more peaceful and resilient continent.
Denmark’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, H.E. Ambassador Sune Krogstrup, reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to the partnership, describing UNOAU as an important partner and Climate, Peace and Security as a key priority for Denmark at the UN Security Council and in its cooperation in Africa. He highlighted the profound impact of climate change on people and communities and stressed the importance of addressing interconnected challenges holistically to build climate-resilient, peaceful and sustainable futures.
Through the project, UNOAU, working closely with the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), will support African-led Climate, Peace and Security priorities and strengthen coherence across continental initiatives, including through coordinated engagement towards COP31 and the Africa-hosted COP32 in Ethiopia.
Through its broader cooperation with Denmark on Women, Peace and Security, UNOAU also supports the African Union in advancing women’s participation and leadership and strengthening gender-responsive approaches across peace and security policies and frameworks.
UNOAU and Denmark reiterated their shared commitment to strengthening the UN–AU partnership and advancing African-led responses to climate-related security risks and sustainable peace across the continent.
