The PATNA 2025 Review and 2026 In-View Report presents a reflection on the Professional African Technical Network Advisory (PATNA) Initiative’s progress in 2025 and outlines strategic priorities for 2026. The report draws on outcomes from PATNA’s End-of-Year Town Hall, convened to assess Africa’s engagement in global maritime decarbonisation processes, particularly within the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and to co-create a forward-looking agenda grounded in evidence and collective experience.
The report integrated quantitative insights from live member polling with qualitative inputs from structured breakout discussions and leadership reflections using a mixed-methods approach. Findings highlight that African positions on the adjournment of the IMO Net-Zero Framework were shaped primarily by concerns around implementation timelines, food security implications, and the absence of Africa-specific technical and economic evidence, rather than legal uncertainty. Persistent challenges identified include fragmented regional coordination, uneven technical and institutional capacity, and limited access to decision-ready analysis during critical negotiation moments.
The report also documents PATNA’s key milestones in 2025, including major convenings, technical support to African delegations, and the Initiative’s growing role as a trusted intermediary between complex global policy processes and African national realities. Looking ahead, member-defined priorities for 2026 emphasise strengthening regional coordination, expanding data and modelling capabilities, translating technical evidence into accessible policy insights, and supporting more confidently coordinated African participation in global maritime climate governance.
The report indicates that PATNA is becoming a more mature platform for evidence-based engagement and collective African action. It provides both a diagnosis of current problems and a practical plan to strengthen Africa’s voice and influence in the coming year.
