Africa is on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, extreme weather events, and profound impacts on food security, water availability, and public health. AFREHO’s Climate Resilience & Smart Systems program responds to these challenges by promoting integrated, technology-enabled solutions that help communities anticipate, adapt to, and thrive in a changing climate.

This program brings together innovations in smart agriculture, renewable energy, early warning systems, and climate-informed urban planning. We work with communities, local governments, and technical partners to implement practical solutions that reduce vulnerability and build adaptive capacity. From solar-powered water systems in arid regions to climate-resilient sanitation infrastructure in flood-prone areas, our interventions are designed for local contexts and long-term sustainability.

Critically, we recognize that climate resilience cannot be achieved in isolation. Our approach integrates environmental health considerations with agricultural development, energy access, urban planning, and disaster risk reduction. By breaking down sectoral silos and promoting cross-sector collaboration, we help communities build resilience holistically—protecting both people and the ecosystems they depend on.

Key Objectives

• Strengthen community capacity to anticipate and respond to climate-related health risks

• Promote adoption of smart, climate-resilient technologies in water, sanitation, and agriculture

• Support integration of climate adaptation into national and local environmental health planning

• Develop early warning systems that link climate data to public health preparedness

• Build evidence base for climate-resilient interventions through monitoring and research

Target Audience

• Rural and peri-urban communities vulnerable to climate impacts

• Local government authorities and disaster management agencies

• Agricultural extension workers and farmer cooperatives

• Urban planners and infrastructure developers

• Humanitarian organizations working in climate-sensitive regions

Expected Outcomes

• 50+ communities with improved climate adaptation capacity within 5 years

• Demonstrated reduction in climate-related health incidents in target areas

• Documented best practices for climate-resilient WASH and agriculture

• Strengthened early warning systems connecting meteorological data to health alerts

• Policy influence at local and national levels for climate-resilient development

Related SDGs