What an exhilarating journey it has been! From May 6 to 9, our dynamic PALMTREEs Project team descended upon Lusaka for the highly anticipated CLARExchange 2025 Forum, co-hosted by Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) Programme and the University of Zambia. This first in-person international gathering was a celebration of collaboration under the theme “Co-creating CLARE Narratives,” and it truly exceeded our expectations!

We joined an incredible community of 180 representatives from 35 CLARE-supported projects across Africa and the Asia-Pacific! Our enthusiastic team of ten, including one of the Project Principal Investigators, GESI and R4I focal leads, Consortium Manager, Communication and Knowledge Exchange Manager, and our brilliant early career researchers, was buzzing with energy and ideas!

The forum transformed into a vibrant hub for peer learning, co-creation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange! One of the standout moments was the poster session, where Prof. Wilfried Pokam Mba, PALM-TREEs Co-Principal Investigator and R4I Focal lead at the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon shared the progress of our project work, highlighting key developments and insights. We proudly showcased 16 innovative early career researcher (ECR) topics, and the feedback and discussions we had were nothing short of inspiring!

On Day 2, Prof. Grace Olukoi, PALM-TREEs Co-investigator and GESI Focal Lead at Lead City University, Nigeria, and Ann Wambui, Postdoc researcher at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, ignited the atmosphere with their session on Lived Experiences sparking engaging conversations about personal narratives and their profound impact. Participants exchanged insights on how diverse and differential lived experiences of extreme events influence responses and subsequent climate adaptation. Grace expressed, “My participation in the #CLARExchange2025 Forum was a delight. All the sessions were quite engaging. The knowledge co-creation approach was demonstrated throughout. I appreciate the opportunity to represent Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) PALM-TREEs and to coordinate the CLARE #LivedExperience Thread session.” Meanwhile, Laura Washington, PALM-TREEs Co-investigator and Director of Project Empower in South Africa, led an Open Space conversation on informal settlements, where participants passionately shared insights and strategies for addressing pressing challenges.

On Day 3, Edith Abilogo, PALM-TREEs Communication and Knowledge Exchange Manager, contributed her reflections during the Communication and Knowledge Exchange session, illustrating how the PALM-TREEs project embodies the spirit of the CLARE community through its amplitude, energy, diversity, complexity, flexibility, and interdisciplinarity. A highlight of the forum was the cultural night, where participants dressed in their traditional or local attire. The evening was filled with joy, color, dance, music, and delicious local food—a true celebration of the richness of diversity within the CLARE community!

On Day 4, we had the opportunity to visit communities living in the Kanyama informal settlement, witnessing firsthand how they cope with the climate impacts of floods. This field visit provided valuable context for our ongoing discussions about resilience and community-based solutions.

Throughout the forum, we immersed ourselves in inspiring discussions, exchanged valuable experiences, and explored groundbreaking approaches to sustainable development. Networking with fellow participants was an absolute thrill as we highlighted our project’s goals and emphasized the vital importance of integrating gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) into our work. Thompson Annor, PALM-TREEs Co-Investigator at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, noted, “The exchange was well organized. It was less stressful but interesting and thought-provoking. I learnt a lot and also made connections with other people. Of course, all PALM-TREEs members were marvelous. Well done, everyone.” It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our findings and lay the groundwork for exciting future partnerships!

Namo Lawson, PALM-TREEs Co-Investigator at Sustainable Solutions for Africa, Ghana, remarked, “I was truly impressed by the dynamic and energized spirit of the organizing team, which created an engaging and inclusive environment throughout the exchange forum. The commitment of the delegates was equally inspiring, as everyone brought thoughtful contributions that enriched the discussions. Most significantly, the forum prompted deep reflection on my own project and helped me better understand the nuances of my research focus.”

Our time in Lusaka was more than just learning; it was about forging connections that will propel our mission forward. Together, we are making strides toward impactful solutions that will benefit communities around the globe!