The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and The Rockefeller Foundation have joined forces to strengthen climate and health financing systems in Senegal and Uganda. The partnership, backed by a joint grant of USD 1.4 million (CAD 1.96 million) through The Rockefeller Foundation’s RF Catalytic Capital, aims to improve governance, evidence generation, and investment readiness within both countries’ health sectors. Announced on October 22, 2025, at the Pan-African Conference on Environment, Climate Change and Health in Kenya, the initiative supports national efforts to integrate climate resilience into health systems and enhance protection for vulnerable populations.
In Senegal, USD 700,000 (CAD 980,000) will be channeled through the African Population and Health Research Center in collaboration with the Centre de Suivi Écologique. The investment will help the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene build institutional and technical capacity for climate-health governance, identify adaptation priorities, and develop bankable projects aligned with national climate and health objectives. Senegal’s Ministry of Health emphasized that the initiative will reinforce cross-sectoral coordination, enabling stronger climate-informed planning and access to sustainable financing for resilience-building.
Uganda will receive an equivalent USD 700,000 (CAD 980,000) to support the Clinton Health Access Initiative and Makerere School of Public Health in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The funding will strengthen inter-agency coordination and support the implementation of Uganda’s Health National Adaptation Plan (2025–2030). The project aims to build a robust health system capable of addressing climate threats, advancing the country’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, the National Development Plan IV, and the Health Sector Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
This collaboration is part of a broader Africa-wide effort by IDRC and The Rockefeller Foundation to promote climate-health governance, research, and financing. The initiative reflects growing recognition of the severe health impacts of climate change, including increased heat exposure and vector-borne diseases. According to The Rockefeller Foundation, the partnership will enable Senegal and Uganda to access and deploy financing effectively to strengthen community resilience and safeguard public health. IDRC highlighted the project’s importance in bridging the gap between health and climate finance sectors, empowering decision-makers to leverage evidence for impactful climate-health investments.
