West and Central Africa

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Research with lasting results

Our support helps local communities of researchers in West and Central Africa identify technical, institutional, and policy solutions to development challenges.

Our funding builds local knowledge and capacity to:

adapt to the effects of climate change
mitigate the effects of climate change
manage threatened ecosystems
implement technology in education and governance
foster scientific networks
promote social and economic equity

This is where you’ll find the results of their efforts.

Managing waste and water in Cameroon

Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, is the home of almost 2 million people. Many of the poorest live in unplanned and under-serviced slums. An IDRC-supported project used an ecohealth approach to development in 12 neighbourhoods struggling with...

Negotiating Openness: Lessons from AfricaAdapt

Climate change adaptation must be informed by different types of knowledge, both scientific and "traditional," from various fields and disciplines. But what happens when such diverse perspectives coalesce? How can researchers create...

Climate impacts, forest-dependent rural livelihoods and adaptation strategies in Africa: A review

The livelihoods of more than half of Africa’s fast-growing population rely directly and indirectly on forests. Already faced with poverty and limited economic development, Africa is now confronted with the uncertainty of climate change, which could...

How can Political and Administrative Authorities Contribute to Local Community Adaptation to Climate Change in Benin?

Benin has moved toward the decentralization of state power and the active involvement of local communities. The community is now the institutional locus for the exercise of local democracy and governance, through the participation of its citizens...

A Regional Observatory for Producers’ Climate Change Adaptation in Thies, Senegal

In the region of Thies, climate change and variability have a strong impact on the vulnerability of rural households. Meteorological and agricultural advisory information is produced by different stakeholders, but for individuals and households...

Using Participatory Testing to Build Capacity for Climate Change Adaptation in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, local cultivation and livestock practices are losing their effectiveness, as temperatures rise and rainfall volumes decrease, exposing farmers to greater vulnerability. This case study demonstrates the role of field schools in...

Agro-meteorological early warning to reduce agricultural vulnerability to climate change: The experiences of PARBCC in Benin

In Benin, extreme climate variability has threatened the food security of rural populations, with agricultural yields declining and crop losses increasing due to extreme weather. This case study discusses the need for rural access to...

The effects of climate change in the Congo basin: The need to support local adaptive capacity

In the Congo Basin, more than 80% of people live exclusively on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and harvesting activities that are highly dependent on climate. Research led by the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in three...

Adaptation Insights: Lessons from participatory research in Africa

The Adaptation Insights series consists of nine case studies from seven projects supported by the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa program. Each brief presents insights from research carried out with the active involvement of communities at risk...

"For better or for worse": Can we count on family?

TOWARD INCLUSIVE GROWTH: Not only do the poor have lower incomes, but more importantly, these incomes tend to be highly volatile. Thus, poor households are especially vulnerable to unexpected events. In the event of job loss, illness, or a poor...