Climate and Health Science and Policy Consortium for West Africa (360G-Wellcome-336671_Z_25_Z)

The proposed West Africa Climate & Health Science & Policy Centre will be the region’s first transdisciplinary hub dedicated to addressing the health impacts of climate change. West Africa faces intensifying climate hazards especially heatwaves, droughts, and dust storms, which exacerbate infectious and non-communicable diseases, undermine food and nutrition security through effects on indigenous food systems and mycotoxin contamination. Despite these risks, current health and climate policies remain fragmented or poorly integrated. Based in Ghana with regional and international partners, the Centre will generate high-quality data on climate–health interactions, assess macroeconomic impacts, and develop predictive models for early warning and response. The aims of the Centre are: (i) data-driven evidence generation; (ii) advancing policy-levers to drive regional action; (iii) capacity strengthening and self-sustainability; and (iv) partnerships, gender, equity, inclusivity and change implementation. Through co-production with various stakeholders including governmental ministries and agencies, ECOWAS, NGOs, civil society, women and youth groups, and communities, the Centre will create actionable research evidence-informed policies to protect health, food systems, and livelihoods and define West Africa as a leader in climate-health resilience. Keywords: climate change, health, West Africa, heatwaves, drought, dust storms, non-communicable diseases, food security, policy, indigenous food systems.