Amplifying the voices of African early-career researchers for global and regional climate leadership In this blog, Prince Ansah, Zelda Gadegbeku and Valerie Nutakor highlight the importance of strengthening African leadership in climate research through the CDKN Africa Early-Career Researchers (ECR) Fellowship. Despite being disproportionately affected by climate change, African researchers remain underrepresented in global climate science and policy spaces. The fellowship responds to this challenge by equipping emerging researchers with skills, networks and platforms to amplify their voices, influence policy, and generate locally grounded climate solutions. Through capacity strengthening, knowledge co-creation, science-policy engagement and peer learning, the programme demonstrates how investing in African ECRs can help build a new generation of climate leaders capable of shaping Africa's climate future on their own terms.