Using Science To Improve Adaptation in Africa

This policy brief, based on a 2008 study commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation, examines the integration of climate change model information into agricultural decision-making in Africa. It identifies a significant gap between climate science producers and agricultural users, noting that vulnerability is driven by poverty, lack of infrastructure, and natural resource dependence. The document advocates for 'anticipatory adaptation' and the creation of multi-disciplinary platforms to bridge the communication gap between scientists and practitioners.

• Vulnerability to climate change in Africa is driven by a combination of high poverty levels, insufficient infrastructure, and a direct reliance on the natural environment for livelihoods. This vulnerability is especially acute in Eastern and Southern Africa, where many households depend on a marginalised natural resource base.
• There is a critical disconnect between the production of climate science and its application in African agriculture. Decision-makers, crop breeders, and donor agencies rarely use climate projection data in program formulation, and there are few documented cases where such data have successfully improved human well-being or agricultural productivity.
• The use of climate data in Africa is often based on the familiarity and accessibility of the information rather than its suitability for the specific problem. Furthermore, there is a risk that adaptation efforts may focus only on climate variability while ignoring the trends caused by anthropogenic climate change.
• African climate science capacity is limited, with most data being generated by international organisations. To improve adaptation, the document recommends establishing regional climate-science centres, improving access to historical digital data, and creating multi-disciplinary 'climate change adaptation platforms' that prioritize local needs over international funding requirements.
• Effective funding for climate adaptation must move beyond one-off pilot projects toward supporting long-term institutional capacity and social learning processes, which are more resource-intensive and harder to monitor.

APA

Downing, T. (2008). Using Science To Improve Adaptation in Africa. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei_policybrief.pdf

Chicago

Downing, Tom. Using Science To Improve Adaptation in Africa. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2008. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei_policybrief.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Downing |first1=Tom |title=Using Science To Improve Adaptation in Africa |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2008 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei_policybrief.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{downing2008using, author = {Downing, Tom}, title = {{Using Science To Improve Adaptation in Africa}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2008}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei_policybrief.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }