Climate Health African Network for Collaboration and Engagement

A powerful close to #ECHAfrica25, presided over by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Dr. Deborah Barasa . 🇰🇪 Her closing remarks reaffirmed the #urgency of cross-sector #collaboration, policy coherence and evidence-based action to safeguard #Africa’s health and environment in the face of climate change. As a co-convener, Africa Research and Impact Network. (ARIN), we are proud to have worked alongside key regional and global partners to foster #meaningful #dialogue and drive #evidence-informed solutions that strengthen the intersection of environment, climate change, and health. #ECHAfrica25 showcased #Africa’s leadership and growing capacity to bridge science, policy and practice for a healthier, climate-resilient continent. We remain committed to sustaining this momentum beyond the conference turning #dialogue into action that transforms lives and ecosystems across Africa. #ClimateAction #AfricaLeadership #Sustainability #ClimateResilience #PartnershipsForImpact Climate Health African Network for Collaboration and Engagement Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Amref Health Africa Wanjiru .A.S. Irungu Edna Kowenje Maria Wangui Nailantei Africa CDC

The curtain came down on the Pan-African Conference on Environment, Climate Change and Health, presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mulongo. We take pride in the active participation of our scientists in shaping critical conversations at the intersection of health and climate—emphasizing the need for multi-sectoral collaboration and innovation to build climate-resilient health systems. As a co-convener, KEMRI’s contribution throughout the conference underscores our commitment to advancing healthier communities through research-driven solutions, partnerships, and robust surveillance systems that help address emerging health and environmental challenges. Together, we continue to work towards a climate-resilient and healthier Africa. 🌍 #ECHAfrica25 #Collaboration

Day 2 Highlights | #ECHAfrica25 Day 2 at the Africa Environment Climate Change and Health Conference (#ECHAfrica25) was a powerhouse of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, driving forward the continent’s vision for climate-resilient and sustainable health systems. The morning opened with energizing International Development Research Centre (IDRC) breakfast sessions on unlocking climate finance for health and #LEEPS advancing evidence-informed policymaking for the SDGs. Plenary 1, moderated by Felix Obi, brought together panelists from Senegal, Botswana, Uganda, and Kenya to discuss how to embed health at the core of national climate adaptation plans. Plenary 2 explored the implementation challenges and opportunities of building sustainable, climate-resilient health systems, featuring experts from Kenya, Ghana, and the African Coalition of Communities Responsive to Climate Change. The Digital Poster Session showcased inspiring African innovations,from Ethiopia to South Africa, Nigeria to Rwanda, with flash talks on climate and infectious diseases, heat risk management, valuing nature for wellbeing, and transdisciplinary health solutions. Afternoon parallel sessions dived into heat risk management, healthy sustainable cities, and the blue economy for health, moderated by experts from the Africa Research and Impact Network, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), National Environment Management Authority - KE (NEMA) , and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The day concluded with Science–Policy Dialogues, spotlighting infectious disease control, heat health action planning (with insights from Africa, and cross-sector collaboration linking climate, health, and water security. Throughout the day, one message resonated clearly: Africa’s sustainable health future depends on integrated, evidence-informed action that bridges science, policy, and community innovation. #ECHAfrica25

On Day Two of #ECHAfrica25, our digital poster on Population, Health, Environment & Development (PHED), authored by Clive M. Mutunga, is now live. The #PHED approach reflects what we’ve seen across Africa: locally led solutions strengthen both people’s health and climate resilience. 🌿 From Ethiopia’s forest landscapes to the Lake Victoria Basin and Madagascar’s coastal communities, integration delivers real impact where it matters most—building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities. We’re pleased to share this experience and to learn from others advancing #LocallyLed, #HealthInclusive #ClimateAction across the continent. Amref Health Africa Wellcome Trust Climate Health African Network for Collaboration and Engagement Pathfinder International The Nature Conservancy Margaret Pyke Trust CARE Ethiopia The David and Lucile Packard Foundation #ECHAfrica25 #PHED #ClimateHealth #HealthEquity #Adaptation #AfricaResilience #ClimateFinance #CHEDSolutions

The #ScienceToPolicy Dialogue on Strengthening Cross-Sector Collaboration: Climate, Health and Water Security featured a great panelof experts and practitioners who explored how integrated approaches can advance climate-resilient WASH, public health and sustainable development. Discussions centered on how #climatechange impacts water security and health, emphasizing the need for stronger #partnerships across policy, research and implementation. Speakers highlighted innovations that connect science to action from data-driven monitoring systems to inclusive governance frameworks that strengthen community resilience. Wanjiru .A.S. Irungu highlighted that Consultative Platform on Climate and Health in Africa (CAPCHA) serves as a bridge across disciplines to reinforce the link between climate and health through collaboration, policy and advocacy. By offering a data dashboard and knowledge-sharing platform, Consultative Platform on Climate and Health in Africa (CAPCHA) generates #actionable insights, bridges science to policy and enhances early warning systems to address climate and health risks. Together, we can build a more resilient future. We are open to partnerships! More information on capcha: https://lnkd.in/dfGzTiNv #ClimateAction #Health #Resilience #CAPCHA #ClimateChange #SciencePolicy #Collaboration #Sustainability Wanjiru .A.S. Irungu Kanyangi Washington Edna Kowenje Humphrey Agevi, PhD, Victoria Chengo World Health Organization

This week in Nairobi, I had the privilege of speaking at the Pan-African Conference on Environment, Climate Change and Health: Science to Policy. I shared how World Health Organization African Region is helping countries translate global commitments like the Global Plan of Action on Climate Change and Health into regional and national frameworks that strengthen resilience, protect communities, and unlock climate finance for health. Across Africa, 31 countries have already signed the COP26 Health Commitments under the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health. About 16 countries are working with WHO AFRO on joint proposals to the Adaptation Fund to build climate-resilient health systems, a portfolio that could unlock over US$100 million in Climate Finance for Health. 💬 For the vulnerable communities, the climate, environment and health is one and the same thing because there is only one life support system. 💬 Policy cannot wait for perfect science. Every delay in policy and implementation has a human cost. At COP30, the world must recognize that every climate commitment is a health commitment. We must make health the measure of climate ambition because every degree of warming is a degree of human suffering!! Brama Gnenefan Kone Antonis Kolimenakis EDWIN ISOTU EDEH Elena Villalobos Prats Marina Maiero Amy Savage, PhD @Kutane Waltaji Terfa Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum #ClimateAction #OneHealth #WHOAFRO #PublicHealth #AfricaLeads #Sustainability #ClimateChange