July 6, 2026
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea — At the 16th International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Symposium on ICTs, Environment, Climate Change and Circular Economy, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), through its WIPO GREEN initiative, reinforced the critical role of innovation and intellectual property (IP) in advancing Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
Held from May 19 to 22, 2026, the Symposium brought together policymakers, experts and stakeholders at the Sipopo Congress Center to explore how digital transformation can support climate action and environmental sustainability across the continent.
As a co-organizing partner, WIPO GREEN played an active role in shaping discussions at the intersection of digital innovation and climate action.
During her keynote address, Ms. Nompumelelo Obokoh, Head of WIPO’s Climate Change and Food Security Unit, emphasized that "green digital infrastructure can accelerate Africa’s climate resilience and sustainable growth, but this requires stronger collaboration among innovators, governments, investors and communities." She urged participants to actively engage with WIPO GREEN by registering technologies and needs, forging strategic partnerships and accelerating the deployment of scalable green solutions to address pressing climate and development challenges.
The Symposium, held under the theme “Driving Digital Climate Action through Standards for Environmental Sustainability and Circular Economy,” emphasized the dual role of digital technologies as both enablers of climate solutions and contributors to environmental impacts.
A key outcome of the event was the adoption of the Malabo Declaration, which recognizes the importance of innovation ecosystems, IP, standards for digital infrastructure and technology acceleration platforms in fostering resilient and inclusive growth.
Beyond the Symposium, the WIPO delegation engaged with national partners to explore avenues for collaboration. Discussions with the Scientific and Technological Research Council (CICTE) focused on strengthening local innovation ecosystems and facilitating access to green technologies through WIPO GREEN.
During the meeting, the President of CICTE, His Excellency Anacleto Oló Mibuy, highlighted that “IP and innovation play an important role in supporting sustainable development, not only in cities but also in improving livelihoods”, confirming the significant role of IP in creating opportunities for rural development.
Engagements with His Excellency Mr. José Juan Ndong Tom Mekina, Minister of Agriculture of Equatorial Guinea, further highlighted opportunities to support food security and agricultural productivity through climate-smart innovation. He expressed interest in identifying priority needs and developing a potential WIPO GREEN acceleration project to support local food producers.
The mission underscored growing demand in Equatorial Guinea for innovation-driven solutions, particularly in agriculture, and confirmed strong alignment between WIPO GREEN’s mandate and regional priorities on digital transformation, circular economy and climate action.
As Africa accelerates its transition toward resilient and inclusive green growth, WIPO invites partners, innovators and institutions to join the Africa Green Tech Coalition, an emerging platform to catalyze collaboration and investment in climate technologies ahead of COP32.
To learn more and get involved, contact: wipo.green@wipo.int.