African Researchers Spearhead Climate Solutions with €4.29 Million International Grant Initiative

Major Funding Boost for African Climate Research

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa has announced a significant investment in African-led climate research, with 10 transdisciplinary projects selected for funding through the Belmont Forum Collaborative Research Action initiative. This €4.29 million (R86.7 million) commitment represents one of the most substantial research funding initiatives focused on African climate solutions in recent years.

African Leadership in Global Climate Research

Dr Nare Prudence Makhura, Executive Director of International Grants and Partnerships at the NRF, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “This reflects our strong commitment to supporting African-led, solutions-driven research that tackles the pressing challenges of climate change on the continent. Equally, it highlights the sophistication of our funding administration systems to effectively manage complex, multi-partner international collaborations.”

The selection process was highly competitive, with researchers worldwide submitting 172 pre-proposals and 59 full proposals. The 10 successful projects, all led by African institutions, were chosen following a comprehensive review process that evaluated their potential impact on addressing critical climate vulnerabilities across Africa., according to industry news

Strategic Research Focus Areas

The funding initiative targets three critical thematic areas identified as priorities for African climate resilience:, according to market insights

• Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus: Research addressing the interconnected challenges of resource management and public health in changing climate conditions
• Pollution: Studies focusing on environmental contamination and its relationship to climate patterns
• Disaster Preparedness, Responsiveness, and Recovery: Projects developing strategies for climate-related disaster management

The green and blue economy was identified as a cross-cutting issue, while education and awareness initiatives were encouraged as complementary activities across all projects., according to technology trends

Diverse Continental Representation

The research teams demonstrate remarkable continental diversity, with 97 team members representing 16 African countries: Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda.

The international collaboration extends beyond Africa, with team members from Asia (Turkey), Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil). This global partnership approach ensures diverse perspectives and expertise in addressing complex climate challenges., according to market insights

Research Team Composition and Expertise

The 126 team members bring complementary expertise to the initiative, including:

• 87 Natural Scientists providing technical and environmental expertise
• 23 Social Scientists contributing policy and community engagement perspectives
• 16 Societal Partners ensuring real-world application and impact

The project leadership structure includes 10 African consortium leads, 29 co-Principal Investigators, and 87 project partners, creating a robust framework for successful research implementation.

Long-term Impact and Sustainability

All selected projects will receive three years of funding, allowing for comprehensive research development and implementation. This extended timeframe enables researchers to establish sustainable solutions and build capacity within African research institutions.

The initiative directly supports the African Union’s climate, environment, and sustainability goals outlined in Agenda 2063, addressing knowledge gaps identified through extensive consultation with the research community. By focusing on transdisciplinary approaches and coproduction methods, the projects aim to develop practical solutions that benefit communities across the continent while contributing to global climate knowledge., as covered previously

This landmark funding initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening Africa’s position in global climate research and developing homegrown solutions to the continent’s most pressing environmental challenges.

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