Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa face rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and extreme weather events as a result of climate change, threatening food security and livelihoods of millions of people. These climate impacts are exacerbated by other challenges, such as rapid population growth, natural resource depletion and conflict. Investments in climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy and water security are needed to ensure long-term stability and prosperity these regions.

Our work in the region

Our work in the region includes research on climate impacts and adaptation in different sectors, including water, agriculture, human health and energy. This work is carried out on different geographical and temporal scales, ranging from regional to local studies, and combining more long-term climate projections with empirical research.

The provision and access to affordable and renewable energy, e. g. hydropower, in sub-Saharan African countries is pivotal for sustainable development in the long term. A growing demand for electricity and the need to reduce GHG emissions call for smart planning and climate resilient development concerning energy production and distribution infrastructure.  

Another focus of our work in West and East Africa is the agricultural sector, where climate change threatens food security and rural livelihoods. To support climate-resilient agriculture, we analyze climate impacts on both staple and cash crops, while evaluating suitable adaptation strategies that can stabilize or even increase yields. This work includes anticipating climatic changes and their effects on crops, livestock, and natural resources, identifying and assessing effective adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers and pastoralists, and attributing observed climate impacts to human-induced climate change. By taking a holistic approach, this work helps to inform policies and investments that strengthen agricultural and food systems in the face of growing climatic challenges.

Selected projects

  • TRANSFORM Research for evidence-based climate policy through agricultural and food systems transformation, financing preservation forest sink and a just transition of the economy; funded by BMZ;2025-2027
  • AJust A just transition in agriculture and food systems through agroecological practices based on Indigenous knowledge; funded by BMZ, 2025-2027
  • ProLiCo Promoting the commercial growth of coffea Liberica to strengthen climate-resilience of Ugandan coffee farmers; funded by BMFTR; 2025-2026
  • PACO Implementing regional and national adaptation priorities in Central and West Africa; funded by GIZ; 2023-2027; contact: C. Gornott
  • SAFE4ALL Safeguarding African Foodsheds and Ecosystems for all Actors across Local Levels; funded by EU; 2024-2027; contact: R. Laudien
  • AfriValue Recommendations to avoid climate change-related effects in East African coffee; funded by BMZ; 2022-2026; contact: S. von Loeben, C. Gornott
  • CCH CP2 Climate Change and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa - CP2. Provision of climate and bio-physical forcing data for health impact projections; funded by DFG; 2021-2026; contact: F. Hattermann
  • CCH PI3 Climate Change and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa - PI_3 Weather-related impacts on crop yields and food production; funded by DFG; 2021-2027; contact: C. Gornott
  • DecLaRe Decision support for strengthening land resilience in the face of global challenges; funded by BMFTR; 2022-2026; contact: C. Gornott
  • HiClAP Climate projections for climate risk analysis in Rwanda; funded by GIZ; 2023-2025; contact: C. Gornott, L. Murken
  • AgrImpact Evaluating the impact of agroecological practices on farm system resilience in Madagascar; funded by BMZ; 2023-2025; contact: L. Murken
  • SCARF Scaling agroforestry for holistic climate resilience-building in rural Tanzania ; funded by BMUKN; 2022-2025; contact: C. Gornott
  • AGRICA_Madagaskar Climate risk analyses for adaptation planning in Madagascar; funded by GIZ; 2021-2024; contact: L. Murken
  • Agrica_Ethiopia Strengthening climate-resilient land and natural resource management in Ethiopia; funded by GIZ; 2023-2024; contact: L. Murken
  • IKI Kenya Applying the Water-Energy-Food Nexus to promote Ecosystem Based Ad-aptation in the Ewaso Ng’iro North River Catchment, Kenya; funded by BMU; 2022-2024; contact: S. Liersch
  • Nu-Tree Integrating nutrition and health into agroforestry projects of GIZ and NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa: a feasibility study; funded by DBU; 2022–2024; contact: S. Gabrysch
  • Agrica_Sahel Climate risk analyses for adaptation planning in sub-Saharan Africa; funded by BMZ; 2021-2023; contact: C. Gornott
  • Agrica_21 Support of the AGRICA-project in Sub-Saharan Africa by implementing additional measures; funded by GIZ; 2021-2023; contact: L. Murken
  • B-EPICC Klimakapazitätsvorsorge: Risikovorhersage und -Minimierung funded by BMUB; 2022-2023; contact: F. Hattermann, C. Gornott
  • MECCA Targeting Mental Models of Climate Change Risk to facilitate Climate Action; funded by BMBF; 2019-2023; contact: S. Liersch

Involved working groups

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