At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development held in Seville, Spain, Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized the critical role of Africa in the global climate agenda and called for reforms in global financial systems to support sustainable development on the continent. President Ruto highlighted the need for affordable capital, open markets, and a development-oriented sovereign debt framework, stating that public debt should serve as an instrument for development rather than a trap. He urged credit rating agencies to adopt more accurate, objective, and long-term approaches to assessing African economies and advocated for the establishment of an African Credit Rating Agency. Ruto also stressed the importance of trade rules and pricing systems that incentivize green production and accelerate decarbonization, transforming green premiums into green discounts. He underscored that Africa seeks fairness, partnership, and investment rather than favors, and welcomed the recognition of trade and industrialization as drivers of structural transformation, noting that no country has achieved lasting prosperity without manufacturing and export diversification. The conference featured interventions from other global leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as well as Sudanese officials discussing their country’s progress toward civilian governance.