UN Climate Change News, 15 June 2026 - Established at COP21 in 2015 under the Convention, the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) was created to identify ways and means to address gaps and needs in capacity-building in developing countries, and enhance coherence and coordination across capacity-building efforts under the UNFCCC process.
Over the past ten years, the PCCB has evolved into a central platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration and practical support, bringing together governments, practitioners, financial institutions, UN organizations, civil society, youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
"The PCCB has grown significantly over the past decade," said Cécile Schneider, Co-Chair of the PCCB. "What began as a platform to strengthen dialogue and coordination has become an important space for exchanging experiences, identifying good practices and helping countries strengthen the capacities needed to implement climate action."
Since its establishment, the PCCB has delivered a wide range of activities and resources to support Parties and stakeholders.
Among its key achievements are the establishment of the PCCB Network, which connects hundreds of organizations and experts working on climate capacity-building worldwide; the creation of the annual Capacity-building Hub at UN Climate Change Conferences, which has become a flagship space for learning and exchange; and the launch of the PCCB informal coordination group (ICG), helping strengthen collaboration among UNFCCC bodies, mechanisms and processes working on capacity-building.
"The PCCB is fundamental, as a catalytic policy body, in providing local communities and countries with the right skills, supporting access to finance and linking to the right networks that are prerequisites to implement climate action successfully," said H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma Co-Chair of the PCCB.
The PCCB has also developed practical tools and knowledge products to support implementation, including technical publications, toolkits, capacity-building guides, annual technical progress reports and recommendations to the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA).
Over the years, its work has addressed a wide range of topics, including enhancing climate action through strengthening individual and institutional capacities, supporting adaptation planning, promoting stakeholder engagement, fostering climate-related learning and knowledge management, and improving access to finance and implementation support.
The Committee has also expanded its regional engagement, convening workshops, dialogues and technical exchanges that help countries share experiences and identify practical solutions adapted to regional contexts and priorities.
As climate action has moved increasingly from planning to implementation, the focus of capacity-building has also evolved.
"Countries are increasingly asking not only how to strengthen knowledge, but how to build the institutional, financial and technical capacities needed to turn climate plans into long-term investment and action," said Sophie De Coninck, Director of the Means of Implementation Division at UN Climate Change.
Reflecting this shift, the PCCB's current focus area for 2025-2026 is "capacity-building for holistic investment strategies, bankable projects and stakeholder engagement to strengthen the implementation of NDCs and NAPs in developing countries".
The focus area recognizes that successful implementation depends not only on ambition, but also on the ability of countries to access and align finance, technology and capacity-building support.
Through research, technical work and stakeholder engagement, the PCCB is exploring how countries can strengthen enabling environments for investment, develop stronger project pipelines and enhance participation in climate planning and implementation.
The current focus area has also shaped discussions under the Durban Forum on Capacity-building - held during the June Climate Meetings (SB64). Since COP24, the Forum has been aligned with the PCCB's annual focus area, helping connect technical discussions with practical implementation challenges and solutions.
This year's Forum, "From climate plans to funded projects: practical capacity-building support for developing countries", explored how developing countries can strengthen access to climate finance for implementing nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans (NAPs). The discussions and lessons emerging from the Forum are expected to inform PCCB's ongoing work and contribute to the broader UNFCCC capacity-building agenda.
They will also contribute to the first UNFCCC State of Capacity-building Report, which will provide a broader assessment of progress, challenges and opportunities across the climate capacity-building landscape.
As the PCCB celebrates ten years of work, it is also looking ahead.
A new focus area is expected to be developed at the tenth meeting of the PCCB, continuing efforts to strengthen the capacities needed for ambitious, inclusive and effective climate action.
Ten years on, the PCCB's core mission remains unchanged: helping ensure that countries have the capacities needed to deliver ambitious climate action and achieve lasting results.
