The 'ALBATROSS' Project: Climate resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges related to climate change, which have profound implications for its development, stability, ecosystems health and the well-being of its populations. 

In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, tropical cyclones, and storms, leading to climate-related disasters. 

UNESCO and Partners are implementing a project titled ALBATROSS - Advancing Knowledge for Long-Term Benefits and Climate Adaptation Through Holistic Climate Services and Nature-Based Solutions. 

The European Union-funded ALBATROSS Project, coordinated by University of Bologna (UNIBO) is a 42-month project focused on understanding the complex dynamics between climate, ecosystems, and society, addressing multiple dimensions of vulnerability. The project involves a consortium of 10 European partners across 8 countries and 8 partners from 5 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. 

The project will develop, test, and validate innovative and decision making-relevant tools and knowledge, which will support the adoption of feasible, effective, and sustainable need-based adaptation strategies into policies and programs for the African context. 

The objective is to strengthen climate resilience in 5 Sub-Saharan African countries – Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and South Africa.​ This includes the establishment of 7 hubs that will form part of the Global Climate Resilient Development (CRD) Network.

The ALBATROSS project is organized around 8 closely linked Work Packages (WPs), with UNESCO co-leading WP6 alongside Oxfam South Africa (OZA), focusing on “Fostering comprehensive adaptation through the inclusive multi-level policy dialogue and knowledge transfer”, and coordinating activities in the Morondava Hub in Madagascar.

This will ensure project outcomes contribute to the development of practical tools, such as policy briefs, guidelines, training modules, and strategies that inform and influence policy and practice.