Events

Part of this article was originally posted on ICAT's website on April 23rd, 2026. Photo: ICAT/UNOPS

More than 120 government representatives and experts gathered in Naivasha, Kenya, on 14-16 April 2026 for the 2026 Global Transparency Community Meetings. In the peaceful setting of Kenya’s natural landscape, under the theme of Transparency to drive effective implementation of NDC 3.0, the meetings offered a platform for in-depth learning and knowledge sharing.

Over three intensive days of discussions and interactive exercises, participants explored topics from building national transparency frameworks to support the implementation of countries’ Third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) to assessing the impact of policies and measures to transparency feeding into NDC 3.0 financing strategies.

The immersive, participatory, distraction-free setting enabled participants to engage deeply in dialogue, collective problem-solving, and peer learning.

Organized as a collaborative effort by international transparency support providers and with the participation of representatives from some 70 countries, the Global Transparency Community Meetings generated a solid knowledge base and tangible momentum for data-driven action to advance NDC 3.0 implementation.

A cycle of strengthening climate action through transparency

A clear and recurring message throughout the event was that NDCs and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) were not isolated outputs but rather part of the basic architecture intended to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement. BTRs present data and information on greenhouse gas emissions and projections, progress on mitigation and adaptation targets, and finance needs and flows. These build on and feed back into the design of NDCs and of the policies and measures needed to translate targets into credible and realistic action.

The discussions showed how transparency enables countries to assess gaps and progress during NDC implementation and provides the basis for data-driven policy and investment decisions. Through its data and analysis, transparency strengthens implementation, reporting and assessment of the achievement of national and global targets.

Participants emphasized that national transparency frameworks are helping establish the governance structures needed to deepen sectoral engagement and strengthen national ownership of climate action. They repeatedly underlined the importance of sustained institutional coordination, integrated data platforms, and thematic sectoral working groups to support implementation.

As one participant put it, “transparency is a powerful exchange platform.” It brings together all levels of government and economic sectors, clarifying their roles through transparent, data-driven processes. Transparency is shifting from a project-based exercise to a continuous and holistic strategic approach to climate action planning and implementation.

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PATPA's contribution

PATPA contributed to two sessions, combining capacity-building, peer exchange, and practical implementation support, fostering meaningful dialogue. The first session focused on national transparency frameworks to support NDC 3.0 implementation, led by PATPA and the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI). The second session centered around the linkage between transparency NDC 3.0 progress tracking, co-organized by FAO, UNFCCC, ICAT, and PATPA. Learn more about PATPA’s contribution at our recent post. 

Our key takeaways

• Strong transparency systems enable strong results: Effective NDC tracking depends on well-coordinated national systems, with clear institutional roles, integrated data platforms, and strong alignment across sectors and levels of government. Transparency is essential for clearly defining who does what, reducing overlaps and gaps in climate policy implementation. Climate transparency enables better alignment across ministries and fosters meaningful participation from non-governmental organizations. 
• Turning commitments into measurable actions: By making targets and responsibilities visible, transparency helps translate high-level climate goals into concrete, trackable actions. In this sense, transparency supports countries with continuous monitoring of implementation, making it easier to assess progress. 
• Transparency systems are no longer just about compliance: They are increasingly used as practical tools for decision-making, helping countries move from reporting to actively driving NDC implementation and transformative climate action.
• Improving evidence-based policymaking and credibility: Transparent data supports stronger policy design, evaluation and iterative improvement, increasing trust among investors and partners. Robust transparency and tracking systems enhance credibility, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making, enabling countries to clearly demonstrate progress toward their NDCs.
• Leveraging data systems as a strategic opportunity: Data challenges, including gaps, fragmentation, and capacity constraints, present an opportunity to enhance data governance, expand digital tools, and standardize methodologies, strengthening national tracking systems.

Click here to learn about the co-organizers and contributing partners

The 2026 Global Transparency Community Meetings were co-organized by the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), the Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency–Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the technical support from other partners, including the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA).