Climate Justice, Policy and Livelihoods
Climate Vulnerabilities, Conflicts, and Livelihood Dynamics in the Sahel | ASCEND Synthesis Team
This research team investigates the complex links between climate change, conflict, and agricultural livelihoods in the Sahel, where extreme weather events and resource scarcity intensify socio-economic vulnerabilities.
Overview
About this synthesis team
This research team investigates the complex links between climate change, conflict, and agricultural livelihoods in the Sahel, where extreme weather events and resource scarcity intensify socio-economic vulnerabilities.
The Challenge
In the Sahel, drought, shifting rangelands, and water scarcity intersect with mobility and insecurity. Claims about climate and conflict are contested precisely because the relevant climate, livelihood, and security datasets are rarely brought together with local knowledge.
Our Approach
The team integrates climate, rangeland, mobility, and incident data with pastoralist and civil society knowledge, producing mapping tools and transboundary guidance for regional bodies and conflict-prevention practitioners.
Expected Outputs
- Sahel security-climate mapping tool
- Transboundary policy brief
- Conflict-prevention toolkit
People
Team members
Researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers contributing to this synthesis team.
Project leads
3 membersRichard Nyiawung
University of Waterloo
Bouchra Bargam
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
Christophe Béné
The Alliance Bioversity and CIAT & Wageningen University and Research
Project members
10 membersLloyd George Banda
University of Cape Town
Sharif Islam
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abdul-Rahim Abdulai
The Alliance Bioversity and CIAT
Neville Suh
Africa Rice Center & Ege University
Precious Chilufya
University of Leipzig
Karima Nifa
Sultan Moulay Slimane University
Christantus Begealawuh
University of Ottawa
Shamsudeen Yekeen
University of Guelph
Maria Ayuk
Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg
Vincent Chireh
University of British Columbia
Explore
Related synthesis teams
Climate Justice, Policy and Livelihoods
Climate Justice Centred-Approach to Environmental Impact Assessment in Rural Southern Africa
This climate justice synthesis team will develop a climate justice-centred approach to environmental impact assessments (EIAs), ensuring that community concerns about land tenure and environmental health are centred.
Climate Justice, Policy and Livelihoods
Understanding Non-Economic Loss and Damage in Africa
This project aims to synthesize data on non-economic loss and damage (NELD) over the past decade, identifying key risks, and informing policy responses.
Health, Heat and Wellbeing
Sustainable, Healthy and Resilient Animal Source Food Systems in Southern Africa
By using systems mapping and expert input, the project seeks to provide actionable recommendations to enhance the resilience and sustainability of animal source food systems across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in response to climate variability.
Interested in joining or funding a synthesis team?
We host, fund, and support ambitious transdisciplinary teams turning existing climate data into real-world action.