What we do

Our Work

Eight interconnected focus areas driving climate justice, resilience, and a just transition across Eastern Africa.

Centering People and Climate Impacts

Vulnerable and impacted communities sit at the center of everything we do. We ensure that policy and advocacy reflect the lived realities of those most affected by the climate crisis — not just technical or diplomatic priorities.

Ending Fossil Fuels

We campaign for a rapid, just phase-out of fossil fuel extraction and expansion across Eastern Africa, pushing for accountability from governments and companies driving continued fossil fuel dependency.

Transformative National Climate Action Plans

We work with members to strengthen Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national climate plans so they reflect genuine ambition and grassroots priorities, not just international commitments on paper.

Building Power Through Movements

We organize, train, and resource civil society networks across the region so that collective grassroots action can be sustained and scaled — building lasting political power, not just one-off campaigns.

Multilateral Processes and Advocacy

CAN-EA represents Eastern African civil society at major multilateral platforms — AMCEN, the African Group of Negotiators, the African Union, and the UNFCCC — ensuring regional voices shape global climate policy.

Renewable Energy

We advocate for accelerated, equitable access to renewable energy across the region, supporting a just energy transition that benefits communities directly rather than leaving them behind.

Adaptation

We support communities in building resilience against current and future climate impacts, from drought and flooding to shifting agricultural seasons, through locally-led adaptation strategies.

Loss and Damage

We advocate for dedicated finance mechanisms to address the climate losses and damages that communities in Eastern Africa are already experiencing — impacts that adaptation alone cannot address.

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