In a significant move to bridge the gap between climate ambition and tangible action in Africa, the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) and the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the COP30 Brasil, Belém climate summit.

The agreement, signed on Monday, November 17, 2025, aims to fuse Jospong Group’s action-oriented projects in waste management and agriculture with UNU-INRA’s research prowess to drive green industrialisation, build climate resilience, and empower small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) across the continent.

The General Manager of the Jospong Group Green Transition Office, Dr. Glenn Kwabena Gyimah, signed for the conglomerate, while the Director of UNU-INRA, Professor Fatima Denton, signed for the university.

The ceremony was witnessed by a delegation from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science, and Innovation at COP30, including Chairman Yaw Frimpong Addo, Vice Chairperson John Darko, and the Ranking Member, Dr. Adam Hamza.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Gyimah described the partnership as a pivotal step in the group’s sustainability mission, underscoring the strategic importance of the collaboration.

“As a group, we drive sustainability in an integral order. Sustainability is now a market that drives economies, and we are particular about it,” he noted.

The partnership, he explained, was being formed to drive growth, investments, create jobs, and have an impact in our world, stressing, “This MOU signing is a privilege, and we’ll hear about the outcome in the coming time.”

On her part, Professor Denton underscored the critical need for such a partnership, indicating that green businesses were essential. She, however, lamented that many African entrepreneurs were not inclined towards green business, despite its importance.

“The infrastructure is often not there. The technology is absent. The resources are not there,” she further bemoaned.

She elaborated on the synergy between the two institutions, explaining that while Jospong was very action-oriented in waste management, agriculture, and green transition, the UN Institute was research-oriented. The partnership would leverage their strengths, combining Jospong’s practical experience with the UN Institute’s research expertise to support Africa, she added.

Professor Denton also contextualised the agreement within the larger, often frustrating, context of COP negotiations.

“When we come to the COP, the conversations that I had are very much geared towards decarbonisation. It doesn’t mean we don’t want decarbonisation. We want decarbonisation that’s fair, decarbonisation that’s inclusive,” she stated, emphasising the need for a “fair deal” for Africa that includes finance and technology transfer.

The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Environment Committee, Dr. Hamza, commended the initiative for bridging “the gap between theory and practice, academia and industry.”

He urged both parties to ensure the partnership delivers concrete results, saying, “Don’t let it end up like many other partnerships that fail to deliver.”

He assured them of parliamentary support, adding, “As members of parliament, we’ll do our best to support this partnership, especially when it comes to policy and legislation. We’ll stand ready to ensure its success.”

In her welcome address, a Senior Sustainability Officer at Jospong Green Transition Office, Dr. Gloria Kusi Boamah, set the tone, stating, “This memorandum of understanding symbolizes more than cooperation; it represents a shared vision, a vision where research informs action, where technology and policy work hand in hand, and where African institutions lead the transformation towards sustainability.”

What the MoU Stands to Achieve

The partnership is designed as a practical engine for Africa’s just transition. It will pursue joint research, capacity building, and high-impact projects focused on strengthening climate resilience, advancing natural resource management, and supporting green industrialisation.