In a bold step toward enhancing the continent’s resilience to climate change, African universities have been invited to play a central role in a newly launched 24-month initiative aimed at strengthening institutional capacity for climate adaptation research.
The project, Understanding African Universities’ Capacity for Climate Adaptation Research, brings together the Association of African Universities (AAU), the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). Funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the project seeks to engage 20 universities across Africa in co-creating a groundbreaking Climate Adaptation Research-centred Organisational Capacity Assessment Tool (CO-CAT).
Rather than a traditional research program, the initiative has been designed as a “living lab,” prioritising co-creation and collaboration among academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. Participating universities will help develop, test, and refine the CO-CAT tool to assess and improve their internal capacity for climate-related research and action.
“Universities are at the heart of climate knowledge generation, but too often they’re left out of designing the frameworks that define their growth,” an AAU spokesperson stated. “This initiative is about putting African institutions in the driver’s seat.”
The call for expressions of interest targets universities in 24 countries—including Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Zambia—that can demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability, interdisciplinary collaboration, and climate-focused research. Each selected university will receive a USD 5,000 seed grant to support pilot activities that test and apply the CO-CAT tool.
The tool will help institutions map their strengths, identify gaps, and determine the support needed to enhance climate adaptation efforts. Outcomes may include launching cross-disciplinary climate labs, implementing new training programs, or revising institutional climate strategies.
Universities must also show active collaboration with non-academic stakeholders and have the digital infrastructure to support virtual engagement.
The data and insights generated will culminate in a toolkit and a series of case studies designed to guide broader resilience planning across Africa’s education, policy, and development sectors.
Applications are open until Friday, June 13, 2025. Institutions eager to shape Africa’s climate future are encouraged to apply and become part of a pioneering movement to localise, empower, and expand climate research across the continent.
Article by RB Correspodent
Photo/Google
Comment