NAIROBI | October 22, 2025 – At the Pan-African Conference on Environment, Climate Change, and Health held in Kenya, The Rockefeller Foundation teamed up with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to launch a $1.4 million partnership aimed at tackling the health effects of climate change in Senegal and Uganda.
This investment focuses on improving national health systems. It aims to enhance governance, generate reliable data, and boost the ability of these countries to secure both domestic and international funding.
In Senegal, $700,000 is earmarked for the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). This will help the Ministry of Health build strong frameworks for combining climate and health initiatives. “Our goal is to intertwine climate resilience with our health system,” explained Dr. Codou Badiane Mané from Senegal’s Ministry of Health. She emphasized the need for solid planning and data integration to protect public health.
Uganda will receive an equal amount to support the Climate Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the Makerere School of Public Health. This funding will assist in implementing the country’s Health National Adaptation Plan for 2025-2030. Dr. Didacus Namanya from Uganda’s Ministry of Health pointed out that this project is timely, as it strengthens the national health system against the challenges posed by climate change, ensuring access to healthcare for vulnerable communities.
Both countries are leading the way in addressing climate and health concerns in Africa. This collaboration is part of a larger strategy by The Rockefeller Foundation and IDRC to coordinate and finance climate-health initiatives across the continent. Manisha Bhinge from The Rockefeller Foundation remarked, “Many communities in Senegal and Uganda are facing severe impacts from climate change, including rising temperatures and new health risks.”
Dr. Montasser Kamal from IDRC echoed this sentiment, stressing the urgent need for health systems to harness climate financing effectively. “This project will help bridge the gap between health and climate finance, enabling better decision-making,” he said.
Climate change is a pressing issue affecting health globally. A recent study by the World Health Organization revealed that climate change could lead to over 250,000 additional deaths each year due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress between 2030 and 2050. Addressing these impacts requires coordinated action and innovative solutions like the partnership announced at the conference.
This initiative also aligns with commitments made during COP26 and COP28, where many nations promised to develop climate-resilient health systems. By working together, Senegal and Uganda are making strides toward better health for their people in the face of a changing climate.
For more insights on the impact of climate change on health, you can check the WHO’s findings on climate and health [here](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health).
