Supporting the evaluation and evidence synthesis landscape in climate and health in low- and middle-income countries

Climate change is one of the biggest threats currently facing humanity. It is a is a global threat to stability. With its impacts in the form of extreme weather events and rising water body levels, climate change exposes present and future generations to lifelong health and livelihood harm, particularly in regions with low adaptive and resilience capacity. Exposure to increased frequency and intensity of severe weather, such as flooding and drought, are leading to tormenting risks, as the occurrences of water-borne and vectorborne diseases and malnutrition-related illnesses are aggravated.
Climate change is worsening already tight resource constraints through more extreme and variable weather and decreasing average yields. Sub-Saharan Africa is confronted with a range of climate risks that could have far-reaching consequences for its health systems in future. Rapid and uncertain changes in rainfall and temperature patterns markedly threaten agricultural production, increase the vulnerability of smallholders, and accentuate rural poverty that threats health and livelihoods. Under 2°C warming, the existing variations in water availability across the region could become more pronounced (World Bank; 2013). In southern Africa, annual precipitation is projected to decrease by up to 30 percent under 4°C warming, while parts of southern and west Africa may see decreases in groundwater recharge rates of 50–70 percent. This could lead to substantial increase in drought risks. Similarly, strong warming and an ambiguous precipitation signal are projected to increase drought risk over central Africa. The 2011 Horn of Africa drought, particularly severe in Kenya and Somalia, is consistent with an increased probability of long-rains failure under the influence of human-induced climate change (World Bank, 2013).
Responding to these challenges will require better knowledge and evidence synthesis that can promote better policy and actions that would improve health and livelihoods. Developing evidence synthesis, evidence portal, policy briefs, guidance and guidelines