What’s Next — Absa’s Msizi Khoza on how African countries must approach COP29

In this What’s Next with Aki Anastasiou interview, Absa’s Msizi Khoza discusses the challenges that African nations face in securing adequate climate finance – and how they can advocate for themselves at the upcoming COP29 conference.

Khoza is CIB Managing Executive for ESG at Absa and leads the company’s extensive responsibility-related initiatives.

He has held several notable roles at Absa during his career, including Principal of Structured Asset Finance, and Chief of Staff to the Absa Group CEO.

Previously, Khoza worked as a Council Member for the University of Johannesburg, an Associate at Ethos Private Equity, an Associate at A.T. Kearney, and Manager for the National Planning Commission of the Presidency.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Johannesburg and a BScEng in Computer Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

The interview

In this What’s Next interview, Khoza discusses the main challenges African nations face in securing adequate climate finance and details the goals and structures African nations should advocate for at COP29.

He outlines the alternative financial strategies African countries should be considering and reveals how the shift from climate loans to grant-based funding has impacted climate resilience and debt sustainability on the continent.

Khoza then explains how African governments can mobilise domestic resources to fund climate initiatives if the COP29 negotiations fail to deliver the desired results.

He concludes the interview by unpacking the role of national determined contributions (NDCs) in attracting international funding and investment.

Watch the full interview with Msizi Khoza below.