Concept Note - AMCEN Welcome Reception Dinner (in the margins of the 20th Ordinary Session of AMCEN)

The twentieth ordinary session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) is being held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 to 18 July 2025, under the presidency of Libya. This milestone session commemorates 40 years since the establishment of AMCEN in 1985, marking four decades of advancing Africa’s environmental agenda. Convened under the theme “Four Decades of Environmental Action in Africa: Reflecting on the Past and Imagining the Future,” AMCEN@40 provides an important opportunity for the continent to celebrate its environmental achievements, assess progress, and renew its commitment to transformative action. The session includes a technical segment (14–15 July), a ministerial segment (16–17 July), and a high-level special session on 18 July dedicated to commemorating AMCEN’s legacy and future direction. The welcome reception dinner brings together ministers, senior officials, partners, and stakeholders in a spirit of unity and celebration. It provides a platform to recognize collective efforts, foster informal exchanges, and set the tone for productive dialogue. As AMCEN enters its fifth decade, the dinner also serves as a moment to honour its enduring role in shaping Africa’s environmental policy landscape and in championing sustainable development on the continent and globally.