Deadline: 11-Sep-2025
Applicants are invited to apply for the Climate Services for Risk Reduction Initiative in West Africa, aiming to develop pathways to climate resilience through long-term multinational cooperation. This joint call encourages project consortia composed of partners from African and European countries within the Group of Funding Parties (GFP) and other West African countries. Partners from other African and European countries can participate if self-funded.
The CS4RRA initiative focuses on building climate resilience in West Africa by enhancing joint capacity development and fostering co-designed activities between African and European partners. These activities center on improving knowledge of the regional climate system, innovating climate services, and strengthening capacity development.
The initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience by improving understanding of climate change impacts, enhancing climate knowledge, services, and capacity for risk reduction and adaptation, and reinforcing African-European partnerships.
West African countries face common climate challenges requiring sustainable, innovative solutions that respect local knowledge and needs. Climate services play a key role in addressing these issues. Recent webinars and conferences have emphasized the need for user-oriented climate and environmental services to boost resilience in the region.
Achieving climate services for risk reduction involves complex challenges that span sectors, disciplines, and policy areas, influenced by local to global dynamics.
Key focus areas include improving multi-hazard early warning systems from sub-seasonal to seasonal scales to mitigate extreme weather impacts. Another priority is operational assessment and prevention of climate security risks related to food, water, land, health, transport, and energy systems. This includes addressing livelihood losses, resource competition, disasters, and forced migration.
Additionally, the initiative seeks innovative financing mechanisms and better institutional integration of climate services. Promoting cooperation among scientists, private and public sectors can foster job creation and economic opportunities.
Funding for projects may not exceed 2,000,000 euros, with a maximum duration of 36 months.
Eligible proposals must address all three pillars of the initiative: knowledge, capacity development, and innovation in West Africa. They should follow interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, promoting co-design among academic and non-academic partners such as policymakers and economic actors. Proposals must respond to specific climate challenges identified by West African stakeholders and bridge scientific research with social innovation and impact.
Organizations from the 16 West African countries defined by the UN, as well as countries represented in the GFP, are eligible to apply. Project consortia must include at least three partners: two African institutions from different countries and one European institution. The consortium must be led by a West African partner and demonstrate balanced, equitable collaboration between African and European participants.
Eligible entities include research and higher education institutions, companies, NGOs, and other legal entities, subject to national funding rules.
Proposals may cover one or more thematic areas. Each consortium can submit only one proposal, and individual members may participate in other consortia. A researcher may only serve as coordinator for one proposal. Applicants must disclose if similar proposals have been submitted elsewhere or if funds have been awarded based on such submissions.
For more information, visit JPI Climate.
