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South-South Webinar Calls for Urgent Integration of Climate, Health, and Nutrition in National Policies
AfriCatalyst convenes experts from Africa and Latin America to share cross-regional strategies on building climate-resilient food and health systems
Dakar, Senegal, 17 July 2025 — AfriCatalyst hosted a high-level South-South Webinar on Climate Adaptation, Health, and Nutrition in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The webinar brought together policymakers, climate experts, and development practitioners from Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America to examine how countries can better integrate nutrition and public health into climate adaptation strategies.
“The climate crisis is a health and nutrition crisis. We must act now to protect vulnerable communities through integrated policies and financing,” said Daouda Sembène, CEO of AfriCatalyst, in his opening remarks.
Against the backdrop of intensifying climate impacts on agriculture and public health, the webinar spotlighted the urgency of cross-sectoral coordination and community-led solutions within countries in Africa. Participants shared innovations, real-world experiences, and data-driven insights to enhance national policies for climate resilience.
Speakers warned that increasing climate shocks are driving hunger, malnutrition, and placing immense pressure on fragile health systems. Margaret Ngonga of CARE Zambia reported that over one million households were left food-insecure following Zambia’s recent drought, stating, “In Zambia, we’ve seen how droughts devastate nutrition. Community-led adaptation is key to building long-term resilience.”
Bertha Mkandawire from AGRA emphasized that women and children are disproportionately affected by such food crises, highlighting the urgent need for targeted resilience programs. Meanwhile, Solomon Laryea of Ghana’s Ministry of Health advocated for climate-resilient school feeding initiatives that not only address hunger but also ensure nutritional adequacy.
Panelists further highlighted that effective policy integration demands close cooperation between government departments, private sectors, and communities. Kathia Aguilar from Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment presented her country’s sustainable taxonomy. Which guides financial institutions in making climate-aligned investments, demonstrating how finance can support integrated adaptation efforts.
“Costa Rica’s sustainable taxonomy proves that aligning finance with climate adaptation can drive real change.” Kathia Aguilar, Ministry of Environment, Costa Rica
Funding limitations and the lack of localized data were identified as major challenges to integrated adaptation planning. Margaret Ngonga called for direct community access to climate finance to ensure that vulnerable populations can implement localized solutions, while Kathia Aguilar emphasized the importance of credit innovations to empower smallholder farmers. Cheikh Diedhiou from Senegal stressed the urgent need for robust subnational data to guide more effective and context-specific adaptation strategies across regions.
The webinar also featured interactive sessions designed to foster open dialogue between panelists and the audience. These discussions provided a platform to exchange best practices and explore what effective partnerships could look like in advancing integrated climate solutions. Key focus areas included the promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and the critical role of indigenous knowledge in preserving crop diversity through initiatives like seed banks and agroforestry; enhancing private sector engagement in financing nutrition-sensitive adaptation programs; and strengthening market access for climate-resilient crops to bolster the stability and sustainability of food systems.
The event also saw the launch of three timely policy papers: “Climate Change and Nutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa,” “The Climate and Health Nexus,” and “Climate Change and Water Resources.” These briefs are designed to support national stakeholders in advancing evidence-based policymaking and effective adaptation planning.
To close the session, participants reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up South-South knowledge exchange, mobilizing inclusive and innovative financing, and championing community-led climate action. They also emphasized the importance of feeding these shared solutions into upcoming COP30 discussions.
Watch the Webinar Live on Youtube:
For Media Inquiries:
Bineta Pouye
bpouye@africatalyst.com or contact@africatalyst.com
About AfriCatalyst
AfriCatalyst is an independent, global development advisory firm working to promote initiative, evidence-based solutions to Africa’s development challenges.
Relying on our pool of experts with rich careers in global development affairs, we strive to build partnerships with local and global actors to achieve our goal of transforming the continent.
