Wellcome will provide an initial £40 million for two new consortiums in Southern and Western Africa with a further £20 million earmarked to set up a third consortium in Eastern Africa.
Oxford researchers join as a member of the Western Africa consortium, led by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. Working alongside African partners they will focus on the impact of heatwaves, dust storms and drought on people’s health and nutrition to develop effective policies that also take into consideration the economic costs and benefits.
Oxford’s contribution brings expertise from three institutes: Sara Khalid, from the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), Luke Allen from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences (NDPCHS), and Jacob McKnight from the Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM). Together, they will support the development of advanced climate-health models, economic analyses and policy frameworks that translate evidence into practice.
Professor Philip Antwi-Agyei, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana and Western Africa consortium lead says:
‘Climate change is an escalating threat to global health and West Africa is among the most vulnerable regions due to high exposure to climate hazards, low adaptive capacity, and fragile health systems. Intensifying climate-related health risks are compounding existing inequities, straining public health systems, undermining food security and disrupting livelihoods, with GDP losses projected to rise significantly across the region.
‘The current uncoordinated context-specific policies and systems pose a huge challenge in addressing the risks associated with climate change and health – particularly in respect to heatwaves, dust storms, and droughts on food systems and other health determinants. The Western Africa consortium based in Ghana and Senegal will establish a regional approach that brings together physical and social sciences, policy and practice to ensure that evidence is readily translated into tangible actions to benefit people’s health and livelihoods.’
Sara Khalid, Associate Professor of Health Informatics and Biomedical Data Science at NDORMS said:
‘Climate change is accelerating an already serious health crisis in West Africa, compounding inequities, and straining fragile health systems. Without inclusive, equity-focused responses, these pressures risk deepening existing inequalities.
Through the West Africa consortium, Oxford is working with regional partners to integrate climate data, epidemiology and health systems research to understand the impacts of heatwaves, dust storms and drought. This evidence will inform predictive tools and more resilient health systems, supporting fairer access to care and improved health outcomes across the region.’
Luke Allen, Co-Director of Global Primary Care and Future Health Systems at NDPCHS, said:
‘Addressing the health impacts of climate change demands genuine global collaboration grounded in local leadership. With African expertise, priorities and communities at the forefront, this centre will generate solutions to mounting pressures on health systems, food security and economic stability. I am excited to be part of this effort, combining rigorous science, community knowledge and policy expertise — including our invited Oxford policy analysis experience and longstanding partnerships across low- and middle-income countries worldwide — to help translate evidence into equitable, resilient action that protects lives and livelihoods in West Africa and beyond.’
Jacob McKnight, Associate Professor at NDM said:
’Climate change represents a deepening public health emergency everywhere, but how it affects health varies across geographies. We aim to support our West African colleagues as they set priorities for research that will drive action to protect vulnerable people on the frontlines of climate change.'