Responding to a Growing Climate–Health Crisis

Across West and Central Africa, climate change is increasingly shaping health outcomes by altering disease patterns, straining health systems, and exacerbating vulnerabilities. Despite these realities, responses remain fragmented and insufficiently coordinated across sectors.

CHINNOVA addresses this gap by strengthening the integration of climate and health research, improving access to data, and supporting evidence-informed decision-making. In October 2025, CHINNOVA launched its first Call for Proposals, marking the start of its research funding programme across West and Central Africa. The call attracted 200 submissions and committed USD 700,000 to support selected projects, reflecting strong regional interest in climate and health research. Insights from the first round have informed the priorities and design of the current call.

Building on this foundation, the second call invests in research that is not only scientifically robust but also contextually grounded and directly actionable.

A Strategic Focus on Collaboration and Impact

The Second Call for Proposals is designed to support research that delivers tangible impact on health systems, communities, and policy processes across West and Central Africa. It places strong emphasis on collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral approaches, recognising that climate and health challenges require coordinated responses across multiple domains.

Proposals are expected to demonstrate strong scientific and technical merit. They should also address real-world challenges and priorities, with clear pathways to impact, including how research findings will inform policy, strengthen institutions, and support decision-making processes.

In line with CHINNOVA’s broader objectives, proposals must integrate gender equality and inclusive approaches, ensuring equitable and responsive outcomes.

Priority Research Areas

The call focuses on key thematic areas that are critical to advancing climate-resilient health systems in the region. These include:

Strengthening health systems preparedness and response to climate-related risks Advancing climate and health data systems, including early warning mechanisms Addressing climate-sensitive diseases and related health outcomes Promoting gender equality and inclusion in climate-health research Enhancing community engagement and risk communication Driving policy and institutional innovation for climate-resilient health systems These priority areas reflect CHINNOVA’s commitment to supporting research that is both scientifically rigorous and directly relevant to policy and practice, with the potential to drive meaningful and sustained impact.