By Niall O´Connor

Climate change and other development challenges require more scientific knowledge, a point firmly made at the 2026 Science Summit, a portion of which was held in Nairobi, co-hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute. The implications are particularly stark for African nations, where investments in scientific knowledge that can help address these challenges are worryingly low. 

Governments face mounting pressure to address climate change, food insecurity, energy access, and biodiversity loss, often with limited financial resources and many competing agendas. And yet the research needed to guide these decisions is rarely funded adequately or translated into policies and investments that deliver results.

As the UN begins developing its sustainable development agenda beyond 2030, Africa has an opportunity to address this disconnect. Research should not be an afterthought but instead should be seen as a vital investment in the continent’s development.

Spending on knowledge to guide action

The economic impacts of climate change show what is at stake. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa loses about 15% of its GDP per capita annually to climate change. These losses manifest as climate-related disasters, declining agricultural productivity, infrastructure losses, and disruptions to livelihoods, among other impacts.

This makes investing in climate adaptation and resilience compelling. However, successful investments will depend on understanding where risks are greatest, which interventions are likely to succeed, who stands to benefit, and what the long-term impacts might be.

Research can help answer these questions. Climate projections, vulnerability assessments, and evaluations of adaptation measures can guide infrastructure planning, agricultural policies and public spending. Economic analysis can also help governments understand the cost of delaying climate action. Through its work on the economics of climate change, SEI is supporting research teams in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Niger to quantify the costs of inaction, providing evidence to help policymakers weigh the economic impacts of inaction against the beneficial costs of taking early actions.

Impact of underinvestment

Africa’s research funding gap is striking. According to the UNESCO, most countries in Africa invested just 0.38% of GDP in research and development, compared with a global average of 1.92%. The African Union’s longstanding target is for member states to invest at least 1% of GDP in research and development. Meeting that benchmark will require the region to increase its investment substantially.

The gap is particularly concerning for climate research. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that, between 1990 and 2019, African-led climate research received just 3.8% of global climate research funding, amounting to approximately US$1.26 billion. Of this funding, 78% went to institutions in Europe and North America, while only 14.5% went to institutions in Africa.

Inadequate funding limits universities and research institutions from sustaining and growing scientific expertise, responding to emerging policy issues, and building the long-term partnerships needed to address cross-boundary challenges. As a result, policymakers in Africa often rely on research conducted in contexts that differ from those in African countries.

Bridging the science-policy gap requires a more deliberate approach to research communications and engagements. Researchers need opportunities to engage policymakers early, to understand their information needs, and build knowledge together. They also need to share findings in formats that support decision-making, as policy briefs, accessible data, public discussions and direct engagement with government institutions can help make research more relevant to policy processes.

Communication should also go beyond government and academic institutions. Communities affected by climate change need access to information to understand risks, assess their options, and participate in decisions that affect their lives. Women, young people, Indigenous communities and other groups whose knowledge is often overlooked should also have meaningful opportunities to contribute to the research and policy processes that will affect them.

With four years remaining until 2030 and many of SDG targets off track, the emerging post-2030 agenda offers an opportunity to address development barriers. Three important steps need to be taken:

• African governments need to make research a key part of national development planning and public investment. This means strengthening local research institutions, providing more predictable funding, and building the capacity to conduct and apply research in priority sectors.
• International research partnerships should strengthen African-led institutions and support long-term collaboration, where experts in Africa set research priorities, leading studies and determining how their findings inform policy and practice. They should also recognize Indigenous knowledge and gender inclusion in research.
• Research funding should be matched by investment in implementation. Governments need to use research findings to guide decisions and assess whether policies deliver the intended results. This will direct resources towards more effective interventions. The post-2030 agenda should therefore recognize research as an investment in development outcomes. 

Funding alone will not close the science–policy gap. Governments should create opportunities for regular dialogue between researchers and policymakers, involving researchers early in policy development and target-setting. Turning research into action requires both resources for African-led research and a willingness among decision-makers to engage with researchers throughout the policy process. 

The author is the Centre Director at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI Africa).