For six decades the Atlantic Council has convened world leaders to address the most pressing challenges facing our plant. In 2015, the Millennium Leadership Program (MLP) was launched as a central pillar of this enduring legacy. Its mission is to connect and empower the next generation of changemakers who will shape the twenty-first century.
It has been our pleasure at the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre to partner with The Atlantic Council for the inaugural Climate Leadership Program, and to welcome the inaugural team of global climate leaders to Accra from 10th to 13th July 2023. The talented cohort of climate-focused venture capital fund managers from the US, EU, Africa and China gathered in Accra for intensive networking, strategy building, and action planning meetings; and brought diverse perspectives and global experiences to foster collaboration, learning, and practical commitments in climate finance.
The program commenced with a welcome address from Professor George Gyan-Baffour, the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and a representative of the Minister of Finance. Professor Gyan-Baffour emphasized the significance of private investments in overcoming debt constraints and promoting sustainable growth, highlighting the importance of capacity building for local businesses and entrepreneurs in the low-carbon economy. A question-and-answer session, moderated by Ruka Sanusi, Executive Director of the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre, followed the address.
The first day continued with facilitated table discussions led by Jonah Fisher, Senior Director of the Millennium Leadership Program (MLP) at the Atlantic Council, and Natalia Etten, Deputy Director of MLP. These discussions focused on connecting the cohort members and exploring their businesses and journeys in the climate sector. Key issues discussed included the specific needs of the African continent, addressing basic concerns before prioritizing climate change, the high capital costs in developing countries, accessing various forms of commercial capital and grants (particularly innovation grants for the African continent), and the role of venture philanthropy in designing financial mechanisms for innovation.