Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub‑Saharan Africa faces a complex set of challenges in the context of climate change. Rapid population growth, rising demand for natural resources, and emerging conflicts must be managed sustainably to secure a stable future. Ensuring reliable access to food, water, and energy is key to building a resilient development pathway.

The region is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including higher temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. These changes threaten food security and the livelihoods of millions. Compounding factors such as resource depletion and social tensions further amplify vulnerabilities. To foster stability and prosperity, targeted investments in climate‑resilient agriculture, renewable energy, and water management are essential.

Our work in Sub-Saharan Africa

Our work in sub‑Saharan Africa focuses on understanding climate impacts and identifying effective adaptation strategies across key sectors, including water, agriculture, human health, and energy. Research is conducted at multiple geographical and temporal scales—ranging from regional analyses to local case studies—and combines long‑term climate projections with empirical research.

Sustainable energy and resource management

Access to affordable and renewable energy, such as hydropower, is crucial for the region’s sustainable development. As electricity demand continues to grow, and greenhouse gas emissions must decline, climate‑resilient planning for energy production and infrastructure becomes essential. To address these challenges, we study the interactions between climate change and natural resource use through integrated regional impact models.

In projects such as CIREG, opportunities for renewable electricity generation in West Africa are assessed to support the energy transition and the phase‑out of fossil fuels. The work examines trade‑offs and synergies between hydropower and irrigation in the Volta River basins, and, using the example of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, demonstrates how large hydropower facilities can stabilize electricity grids powered by intermittent renewables while largely preserving natural river flow patterns.

Water and ecosystem resilience

We also contribute to assessing ecosystem water requirements in areas such as the Inner Niger Delta, Mount Kenya, and the Congo Rainforest, and to evaluating water security across different sectors. This involves first simulating seasonal environmental flow conditions under near‑natural circumstances and then integrating current and projected water management practices and climate impacts. In doing so, we assess the extent to which ecological and sectoral water needs can be met under future conditions. Extreme weather events like floods and droughts serve as climate stress tests to evaluate the resilience of ecosystems, communities, and water management systems.

Climate‑resilient agriculture

Agriculture is another central focus of our research, as climate change poses a major threat to food security and rural livelihoods. We analyze how temperature and precipitation shifts affect staple and cash crop production and evaluate adaptation strategies that can stabilize or improve crop yields, while achieving additional benefits for the environment and people. This includes assessing changing impacts on crops and livestock, identifying effective responses for smallholder farmers, and examining how human‑induced climate change drives observed effects.

By taking an integrated approach, our work provides a scientific foundation for policies and investments that strengthen agricultural systems, energy planning, and water management—working with local partners toward a resilient and sustainable future.

One example of our work are the climate risks profile and climate risk analyses developed under the AGRICA project.