STISA 2034: Environment research for climate resilience initiatives

As Africa faces growing environmental pressures from climate change, the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) is calling on researchers to develop innovative, Africa-led solutions that strengthen climate resilience and protect the continent’s natural resources.

The Environment and Climate Resilience Spotlight Stream forms part of the SGCI-STISA 2034 Multilateral Research Call, which supports collaborative research aligned with the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2034).

The Call is designed to generate evidence that contributes to sustainable development while strengthening science and innovation systems across the continent through African-led, multi-country research partnerships.

Environmental challenges continue to shape Africa’s development landscape. From prolonged droughts and devastating floods to biodiversity loss and increasing pressure on water resources, the effects of climate change are being felt across communities, economies and ecosystems.

Through this spotlight stream, SGCI is inviting African universities, public research organisations and government research institutions to build or join multi-country consortia to develop research on water security, biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation.

The Call places strong emphasis on Africa-led innovation, ensuring that research priorities are driven by the continent’s own development needs while generating evidence that benefits vulnerable and underserved populations.

Successful projects are expected to strengthen the connection between research, policy and development impact, reinforcing the role of science in shaping sustainable environmental management across Africa.

To support researchers in building strong partnerships, SGCI has integrated a Research Matchmaking platform into the call’s official landing page. The platform enables institutions and researchers to identify potential collaborators, access application guidance, and connect with partners interested in forming eligible multi-country consortia, thereby strengthening the quality and reach of proposals.

The Environment and Climate Resilience Spotlight Stream is one of five thematic areas under the Call, alongside Health, Agriculture and Food Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, and Energy. These priority areas reflect Africa’s commitment to harnessing science, technology and innovation to address pressing development challenges and accelerate socio-economic transformation.

The Call is supported through a partnership of African Science Granting Councils, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Government of Norway, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and Wellcome.

Researchers and eligible institutions are invited to explore the call, identify potential consortium partners, and submit expressions of interest before the deadline of 25 September 2026 (23:59 EDT).

Learn more about the call, access the Research Matchmaking platform, and begin your application at https://call.sgci.africa/

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Published on 10 August 2026

By Jackie Opara-Fatoye