Strengthening African Universities’ Capacity for Climate Adaptation Research through the CLimate Adaptation and REsilience – CLARE Project

Accra, Ghana, 2nd May 2025 – The Association of African Universities (AAU) announces a transformative partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Centre for Capacity Research (CCR) at the Liverpool School for Tropical Medicine, and the University of Nottingham, through the CLARE project. This $940,000 US Dollars initiative focuses on Understanding African Universities’ Capacity for Climate Adaptation Research and is funded mostly (about 90%) by the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (UK FCDO), and co-funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada through the CLimate Adaptation and REsilience (CLARE) program. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of African universities to conduct impactful climate adaptation research. It represents a major step toward empowering local institutions to lead research efforts and develop effective climate adaptation strategies.

Africa is recognized as one of the regions most vulnerable to the multifaceted impacts of climate change, particularly severe threats to its ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods. Research shows that climate change- temperature shifts, rainfall variations, extreme heat, and rising sea levels are expected to have widespread effects on the population of sub-Saharan Africa. However, the continent’s ability to respond and recover from ensuing impacts is hindered, in part, by limited research capacity to inform effective climate adaptation strategies. Despite the strong commitment of African academics to addressing climate-induced challenges, many universities across the continent still face structural and capacity limitations that hinder their ability to conduct impactful research and implement sustainable, evidence-informed solutions. Moreover, while global investment in research has grown, there remains a significant gap in strengthening institutions to effectively address climate adaptation challenges.

Recognizing this, the AAU has established a new partnership that seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity of 20 universities across the five subregions- Central, East, North, South, and West Africa, enabling them to deliver on their mandates effectively and contribute to socially inclusive climate adaptation strategies. The Climate Adaptation Research-Focused Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (CO-CAT), through the initiative, is being developed and piloted to inform efforts to bridge the gap. This assessment tool will provide African universities with a structured approach to assessing their strengths and weaknesses in climate adaptation research and developing tailored strategies for capacity enhancement. This initiative adopts a virtual Living Lab methodology to co-create and pilot the CO-CAT framework, bringing together the selected universities along with diverse stakeholders whose participation in impactful research to address climate change adaptation is essential.

With an emphasis on gender equality and inclusion (GEI), the project will foster a supportive environment for underrepresented groups in research and ensure diverse perspectives contribute to the development of climate adaptation strategies. The project will proceed in three key phases:

1. Co-Creation of CO-CAT – Universities and stakeholders will collaboratively develop a framework for assessing climate adaptation research capacity.
2. Piloting and Solutions Testing – The tool will be applied in 20 universities to assess institutional capacities, identify gaps, and implement pilot solutions.
3. Refinement & Knowledge Sharing – Based on pilot results, CO-CAT will be refined, and best practices for using the tool and responding with effective and informed solutions will be shared through open-access publications and case studies.
   This initiative is a game-changer in how Africa approaches climate adaptation research. By equipping universities with the necessary tools to assess and strengthen their capacities, this project will contribute to climate adaptation and resilient solutions tailored to Africa’s unique challenges.

ABOUT THE CONSORTIUM
Association of African Universities (AAU)
The Association of African Universities (AAU) is an international non-governmental organization established in 1967 by universities across Africa to promote cooperation among themselves and with the global academic community. With a membership of over 450 higher education institutions, the AAU operates three regional offices: the North Africa Regional Office (NARO) in Cairo, Egypt; the East Africa Regional Office (EARO) in Khartoum, Sudan; and the Southern Africa Regional Office (SARO) in Zimbabwe. The association’s diverse membership reflects the continent’s major languages and educational traditions. The core mission of the AAU is to enhance the quality of higher education in Africa and strengthen its contribution to the continent’s development by fostering collaboration, supporting teaching and research functions, and facilitating critical discussions on issues affecting higher education in Africa.

Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
Established in 1913, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is the world’s first and oldest international university network, providing a platform for universities to share knowledge, information, and ideas. With a mission to build a better world through higher education, the ACU envisions a global landscape where higher education transcends borders, strengthens societies, fosters innovation, and improves lives across the Commonwealth and beyond. The ACU comprises over 400 member universities in more than 40 countries, with 70% located in low- and middle-income nations and representation in over 50% of the Commonwealth’s large ocean states.

Centre for Capacity Research (CCR)
The Centre for Capacity Research (CCR), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, specializes in the science of enhancing research capacity, focusing on both individual and institutional development to improve skills and research effectiveness. As a global leader in evidence-informed capacity strengthening practices in low- and middle-income countries, CCR engages in high-quality, implementation-focused research. The centre fosters a global community of capacity-strengthening scientists, ensuring equitable participation from low- and middle-income nations. CCR is dedicated to sharing knowledge and advocating for best practices in capacity strengthening. While its primary focus is on research systems, CCR also addresses broader capacity-strengthening initiatives, including laboratory enhancements.

ABOUT CLARE
CLARE is a flagship research programme on climate adaptation and resilience, funded mostly (about 90%) by UK Aid through the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and co-funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. CLARE is bridging critical gaps between science and action by championing Southern leadership to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards.

For further information, please contact;
Prof. Frederick Ato Armah
Director of Research and Programmes (DRAP), AAU
Principal Investigator, CLARE Project
faarmah@aau.org /+233249483014

Mrs. Ruth Issambo Nyarko
Project Coordinator, CLARE Project
rdickson@aau.org / +233240118448

Ms. Isabella Tetteh Ahinakwa
Communication Officer, CLARE Project
itahinakwa@aau.org / +233242330140