Impact and relevance of the FCFA programme
FCFA has improved the understanding of what drives Africa’s climate and how it will change, as well as the impacts and adaptation options. The use of this climate information to address real world problems and inform development plans was achieved by FCFA through innovative engagement processes that included inter alia government decision-makers, communities and researchers. This synthesis aims to outline and sign-post this impact of FCFA to readers through the synergies between the following three pillars:
Delivering a step change in climate science for Africa
FCFA has made significant progress in improving understanding and modelling of Africa’s climate and applying this to real world problems. While there are large gaps in our understanding of the climate of Africa and future projections are still uncertain, FCFA has contributed towards a step change in climate science for the continent. This section highlights FCFA’s key climate science advances and scientific outputs.
Read MoreNovel approaches to research and engagement
FCFA used a range of novel approaches to engage with a diverse set of stakeholders (researchers, decision-makers, communities) to collectively identify useful and usable climate information and adaptation solutions, and communicate complex climate change risks and uncertainties in order to assist in influencing climate-resilient policy and planning. Various climate-related tools have also been developed to support this uptake of climate information.
Read MoreInfluencing Real World Problems
FCFA set out to ensure that decision-makers are able to incorporate relevant climate information when making decisions in medium to long-term (5-40 year) resulting in climate resilient policies, plans and investments. Although impacts for resilience are anticipated to be seen in the long-term, the programme has successfully influenced many current decision-making systems, processes and behaviours. Change-making has occurred by informing particular adaptation decisions, building sustained relationships, and creating new collaborations and action. FCFA influenced the following changes to varying degrees, noting that not all changes can fully be attributable to the programme alone.
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