Nairobi: Experts have underscored the need for stronger research collaborations, increased investment, and data-driven policies to tackle the growing health challenges of climate change across Africa. Speaking during a high-level panel on closing research and evidence gaps between climate and health, Dr. Pushpam Kumar, Chief Environmental Economist and Senior Economic Advisor at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasized that sound evidence remains the foundation for effective decision-making in climate and health policy.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Kumar highlighted the importance of credible evidence in planning resilient health systems, guiding investments, and ensuring communities are better prepared for climate-related health risks. The Advancing Research on Climate Change and Health (ARCH) initiative, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), was introduced as a key program strengthening systems for continuous evidence generation. The initiative operates through five global research hubs, including two in Africa, to mentor early-career scientists, expand networks, and promote gender-responsive research at the primary health care level.
Dr. Elisabeth Kimani-Murage from the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) presented the concept of the Eastern Africa Climate and Health Science Policy and Innovation Center (EAT SPICE). This initiative is aimed at addressing evidence fragmentation and policy integration in the region. EAT SPICE envisions a locally led, transdisciplinary hub that unites research, policy, and community voices to advance climate and health solutions. Dr. Kimani-Murage emphasized the center's focus on high-quality collaborative research, policy advocacy, and capacity strengthening anchored in diversity, inclusion, and climate justice.
Dr. Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, representing the Lancet Countdown Africa Regional Centre, explained the initiative's role in tracking and reporting on the health impacts of climate change. The Africa regional hub was launched to contextualize global data and ensure that the continent's unique realities inform global indicators and policies. Dr. Mabhaudhi emphasized the importance of moving beyond data collection to applying knowledge in policy and practice.
The session also featured a presentation on the Sub-Saharan Atmospheric Monitoring Service for Africa (SAMSA) by Dr. Bas Henzing, Head of Climate and Air Quality at the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. SAMSA aims to connect health outcomes with air quality and climate data to better understand and manage the growing urban health crisis across African cities. Dr. Henzing emphasized the need to bridge the gap between policymakers, scientists, and community workers by linking climate and air quality data with health indicators.
Panelists agreed that Africa's climate and health resilience depends on collective efforts combining scientific research, local knowledge, and policy action. They stressed the necessity for evidence to be not only available but also visible, credible, and actionable.