Efforts to strengthen health system resilience in response to climate change are gaining momentum across West and Central Africa. Against this backdrop, the Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa (CHINNOVA) project has launched its Second Call for Proposals. The call is inviting eligible institutions to apply for Sub-Grants for Collaborative Research and Innovation Projects, which will be implemented over two years, from 2026 to 2028.
This call marks a critical step in strengthening the region’s capacity to respond to climate-related health challenges through collaborative, interdisciplinary, and policy-relevant research.
Responding to a Growing Climate–Health Crisis
Across West and Central Africa, climate change is increasingly shaping health outcomes by altering disease patterns, straining health systems, and exacerbating vulnerabilities. Despite these realities, responses remain fragmented and insufficiently coordinated across sectors.
CHINNOVA addresses this gap by strengthening the integration of climate and health research, improving access to data, and supporting evidence-informed decision-making. In October 2025, CHINNOVA launched its first Call for Proposals, marking the start of its research funding programme across West and Central Africa. The call attracted 200 submissions and committed USD 700,000 to support selected projects, reflecting strong regional interest in climate and health research. Insights from the first round have informed the priorities and design of the current call.
Building on this foundation, the second call invests in research that is not only scientifically robust but also contextually grounded and directly actionable.
A Strategic Focus on Collaboration and Impact
The Second Call for Proposals is designed to support research that delivers tangible impact on health systems, communities, and policy processes across West and Central Africa. It places strong emphasis on collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral approaches, recognising that climate and health challenges require coordinated responses across multiple domains.
Proposals are expected to demonstrate strong scientific and technical merit. They should also address real-world challenges and priorities, with clear pathways to impact, including how research findings will inform policy, strengthen institutions, and support decision-making processes.
In line with CHINNOVA’s broader objectives, proposals must integrate gender equality and inclusive approaches, ensuring equitable and responsive outcomes.
Priority Research Areas
The call focuses on key thematic areas that are critical to advancing climate-resilient health systems in the region. These include:
- Strengthening health systems preparedness and response to climate-related risks
- Advancing climate and health data systems, including early warning mechanisms
- Addressing climate-sensitive diseases and related health outcomes
- Promoting gender equality and inclusion in climate-health research
- Enhancing community engagement and risk communication
- Driving policy and institutional innovation for climate-resilient health systems
These priority areas reflect CHINNOVA’s commitment to supporting research that is both scientifically rigorous and directly relevant to policy and practice, with the potential to drive meaningful and sustained impact.
Funding and Eligibility
The call is open to universities, accredited research institutes, non-governmental organisations with a research mandate, and other institutions engaged in climate and health research across eligible countries in West and Central Africa.
Eligible countries are Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Under this call, CHINNOVA has allocated USD 1,000,000 to support a portfolio of high-quality and impactful research projects. A minimum of five projects will be funded, with each project eligible for funding of up to USD 200,000 and implemented over a period of 24 months. However, the final allocation of funds and selection of projects will be determined based on the quality and relevance of proposals received.
Funding decisions will be guided by the quality, relevance, and potential impact of submitted proposals, as well as the overall balance of the portfolio.
Begin your application process: https://grants.chinnova.aau.org/
Submission deadline: 8 May 2026 (4:00 PM GMT)
Advancing a Regional Platform for Knowledge and Action
CHINNOVA is part of the Advancing Research for Climate and Health programme, funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Implemented by a consortium led by the Association of African Universities, CHINNOVA serves as a regional platform for collaboration, capacity strengthening, and knowledge exchange.
Through its work, the Hub contributes to strengthening research ecosystems, enhancing regional cooperation, and promoting evidence-informed policies that support resilient and sustainable health systems.
Institutions and research teams across West and Central Africa are invited to submit proposals and contribute to strengthening climate and health research across the region.
Apply here: https://grants.chinnova.aau.org/
Submission deadline: 8 May 2026 (4:00 PM GMT)
For enquiries, please contact: chinnova@aau.org | chinnova-manager@aau.org
