Context

This regional action area in Africa proposes an urgent need for increased representation of African researchers in climate science, especially within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other science-policy platforms. As it is, only 11% of IPCC authors are from Africa. Significant challenges, such as limited funding, technical capacity, and institutional support, hinder broader participation, especially for early career researchers just starting out. 

This regional activity also speaks to the importance of African-led research in addressing local climate challenges and ensuring that global climate policies are informed by African perspectives and realities, given the severe climate impacts that the continent faces.

There is a need to increase the visibility and strengthen the confidence of early career researchers by promoting collaboration and co-creation, and ensuring their research can be mobilised and used for policy and practice. This work will support and strengthen national-level research/academic institutions in knowledge brokering capacities, transdisciplinary approaches, and repackaging research to enable them to engage more effectively with national, regional, and global bodies for science-policy coordination and synthesis. 

Project objective

The objective spotlights African researcher voices to enhance the connection between science, policy, and practice at national and regional levels. This will be supported by strengthening institutional processes that respond to existing climate change research gaps and priorities.

Project activities 

1. Strengthen the capacity of national-level university institutions in knowledge brokering, trans-disciplinary approaches, and repackaging research, beginning with peer learning between the University of Namibia’s Department of Environmental Science and the University of Ghana’s Center for Environment and Sustainability. This activity will build the capacity of researchers to engage more effectively with national and regional organisations.   
2. Increase the visibility and strengthen the confidence of early career researchers in the region by promoting collaboration and co-creation.

Project outcomes

• Africa Early Career Fellowship Podcast series
  • WHEN THE LAND CAN'T PROVIDE: CLIMATE CHANGE & CONFLICT IN TURKANA EAST ft. Dr. Nelly Nambande Masayi
  • INTEGRATED GEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT AND VALORIZATION ft. Dr. Mbesi May
  • CLEAN ENERGY WITHOUT LEAVING PEOPLE BEHIND ft. Olumide Onitekum
  • USING TECHNOLOGY TO SOLVE TODAY'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ft. Okoampah Ernest
  • COASTAL EROSION: WHAT WORKS, WHAT FAILS, AND WHY ft. Blessing Charuka
  • THE ROLE OF SMART AGRICULTURE IN CLIMATE ADAPTATION IN ETHIOPIA ft. Abdrohman Ebrahim Hanur
  • TRADITION INTO ACTION: INDIGENOUS MEDIA & CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN WESTERN KENYA ft. Dr. Lucy Mandillah
  • WHY GENDER MATTERS IN CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES ft. Chandapiwa Molefe
  • HOW A CHANGING CLIMATE IS RESHAPING THE HOME OF UAPACA KIRKIANA ft. Kokou Kokouvi Bruno
  • RURAL FOOD SYSTEMS IN CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE NIGERIAN HOUSEHOLD ft. Dr. Olajide Agnes
  • CLIMATE CHANGE ISN'T JUST ENVIRONMENTAL – IT'S MENTAL TOO ft. Humphrey Atwijukiire & Zewdneh Sabe
  • HOW CLIMATE CONDITIONS AFFECT THE SOUNDS OF GRASSHOPPERS AND CRICKETS ft. Dr. Simeu Noutchom Alain
  • JUST ENERGY TRANSITION ft. Noudjimti Christian Leigh

Contact 

For more information, contact:

Prince Ansah, CDKN Regional Action Area Lead on, e-mail: prince@southsouthnorth.org or LinkedIn

Amanda April, CDKN Africa country manger on e-mail Amanda.april@southsouthnorth.org