Climate Research Unit

The climate is changing and communities, lives, livelihoods and development in Africa are already being affected by the changes.

The percentage of disasters associated with weather and climate-related events has been increasing. Already, vulnerable communities and developing economies are struggling to manage the impacts of extreme events due to climate variability and change. These events’ increasing frequency and magnitude heighten the risk of losses and damages. As a result, the vulnerability of communities will increase as their coping capacity reduces, further affecting their ability to recover.

 This is attributed to the changing dynamics of climatic hazards, vulnerability and exposure. Without properly managing the risk of climate variability and change, there will be an increasing need for humanitarian assistance and emergency response, potentially slowing economic development. 

This dictates the need for innovative approaches to disaster risk reduction and management.

Climate information, which includes historical data and forecasts, can help humanitarian organizations, governments, development partners and communities to better anticipate and prepare for climate-related disasters while taking advantage of good climate situations to maximize benefits. This will help reduce the loss of property, livelihoods and life and enhance economic development, thus building the resilience of vulnerable communities. However, climate information remains a resource poorly used in decision-making, planning and action.

Focusing on risk reduction and informed by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, the climate and resilience research unit is addressing disaster risk reduction (DRR) through the generation of knowledge and information that supports an anticipatory approach to disaster management and resilience building.

Focus Areas

Co-development of methodologies and tools for co-producing tailored climate services.

Create spaces for enhanced coordination and engagement.

Strengthen capacity for co-production and use of tailored climate services.

Strengthen capacity on early warning systems and anticipatory action.

Generate evidence base and learning to inform effective use of co-produced climate services in anticipatory approach for disaster risk reduction, management and resilience building.

Vision

Humanitarian organizations, governments, development partners and communities access, understand and use co-produced weather and climate information and services to anticipate, prepare and take effective early actions to maximize positive impacts and mitigate negative impacts of weather and climate events while reducing the effects of climate-related disasters.

Mission

To engage in action-oriented research to support the effective use of co-produced weather and climate information and services in an anticipatory approach for disaster risk reduction, management and resilience building.

Services

Climate change advocacy

Technical input DRR adaptation and climate

Contribute to scientific research and articles (climate-related)

Documentation (photos, videos)

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