Lancet Countdown Africa Regional Centre

Established on 22 April 2025, the Lancet Countdown Africa Regional Centre exists to strengthen African-led evidence at the intersection of climate change and health. The Centre is hosted at Future Africa at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and is one of five regional centres within the global Lancet Countdown network. It generates locally grounded, policy-relevant research that African communities and policymakers urgently need.

Why this matters

Africa faces some of the most severe health impacts of climate change, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. Rising temperatures, floods, droughts, food insecurity, climate-sensitive diseases and increasing pressure on health systems already affect communities across the continent.

Focus Areas

The Centre develops Africa-specific climate and health indicators and contributes findings to the annual Lancet Countdown global report published in The Lancet. It works collaboratively with researchers, academic institutions and policymakers across the continent to bridge science, policy and society. Our focus areas include:

• Advancing Africa-specific climate and health indicators
• Supporting evidence-informed policy and decision-making
• Strengthening collaboration between science, policy and society
• Building research capacity for early- and midcareer African scholars
• Promoting resilient, equitable and health- centred climate responses
• Convening African researchers and institutions working on climate and health

For more information about the Lancet Countdown Africa Centre. Click here: https://lancetcountdown.org/africa/