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Locally Led, Regionally Grounded: CHINNOVA’s First Research Cohort Advances Climate and Health Science in West and Central Africa
August 17, 2026
Accra, Ghana, Friday, August 14, 2026 — Following a rigorous and highly competitive evaluation and selection process, the Association of African Universities (AAU) is pleased to announce that the Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa (CHINNOVA) project has selected 10 research projects for funding under its First Call for Proposals (CFP1), representing a total investment of USD 700,000. This marks a significant step forward in advancing climate and health research across West and Central Africa.
The selected projects span multiple countries across the region, including Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Together, they represent a diverse and collaborative portfolio of research efforts addressing priority climate and health challenges in West and Central Africa.
The 10 funded projects are being led by researchers from Green Scenery Sierra Leone in Sierra Leone; École Polytechnique de Thiès in Senegal; Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku in Gabon; the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana; Official University of Semuliki in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); Water Resources Liberia in Liberia; the Society for the Study of Women’s Health (SSWH) in The Gambia; SODEXAM in Côte d’Ivoire; the Research Center for Global Health Action on Climate Change, Gender Equity, and Emerging Diseases (CHANGE) in Benin; and the University of Bertoua/Osu Foundation in Cameroon.
This portfolio reflects broad regional representation, spanning both West and Central Africa and bringing together institutions from Francophone and Anglophone countries, underscoring CHINNOVA’s commitment to broadening participation and strengthening inclusion across the region’s research landscape.
Research supported under this call covers a wide range of critical thematic areas, including climate-sensitive disease surveillance, digital health innovation, heat stress, gender equity, and community-based resilience. Collectively, these projects represent a coordinated investment in generating evidence that will inform policy, strengthen health systems, and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
The selection was undertaken by an independent panel of experts. Proposals were assessed against clearly defined criteria, including scientific and technical merit, relevance to regional priorities, potential for impact, team composition, gender considerations, and budget feasibility. The highly competitive call attracted more than 200 full proposals, from which the final 10 projects were selected for funding.
To support broad regional participation, proposal submission was facilitated through a purpose-built, bilingual Grants Management System that enhanced accessibility and transparency across both Anglophone and Francophone contexts.
“The strong response to this call is a clear signal that institutions across West and Central Africa are ready and equipped to lead on climate and health,” said Prof. Frederick Ato Armah, Director of Research and Programmes at the Association of African Universities (AAU). “CHINNOVA’s role is to translate that capacity into research that informs policy, strengthens health systems, and protects the health of communities.”
About the Call
The call generated exceptional regional engagement, attracting over 300 Expressions of Interest and 200 full proposals from universities, accredited research institutions, non-governmental organisations, and multi-stakeholder research teams. This strong response reflects both the depth of scientific and institutional capacity and the urgency of generating evidence-based solutions to climate-related health challenges.
Launched in October 2025 under the Advancing Research for Climate and Health (ARCH) initiative, CFP1 was designed to mobilise regionally relevant, collaborative, and policy-oriented research across West and Central Africa.
About CHINNOVA
The Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa (CHINNOVA) is a regional initiative under the ARCH programme. Led by the Association of African Universities (AAU) and implemented in partnership with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, and Université Omar Bongo, CHINNOVA strengthens research capacity, fosters cross-border collaboration, and advances evidence-based policy at the intersection of climate change and human health across West and Central Africa. The initiative is supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
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