Global researchers, funders, and humanitarian actors are gathering in Nairobi for a pivotal three-day forum aimed at confronting the growing health impacts of climate change and rebalancing the power dynamics in global health research. Hosted jointly by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and Elrha, the Humanitarian Health Research Forum runs from May 7 to May 9, 2025.
Under the theme “Bridging Global Health Research and Humanitarian Response in a Climate-Impacted World,” the forum seeks to galvanize action on climate-related evidence gaps, promote research quality and ethics, foster collaborative partnerships, and critically shift decision-making power to researchers and institutions in low- and middle-income countries.
In his opening remarks,Andre-Pascal Kegne the Director of Programs, Research at APHRC emphasized the urgency of rethinking how research is conducted, funded, and translated into impact, particularly in regions hardest hit by climate extremes.
“This is about shifting the power,” said Kegne “Not just giving a seat at the table, but letting African researchers set the agenda. The order has got to be the voice.”
He underscored that meaningful research must go beyond academic citations to influence change where it is needed most.
“I never got a citation. But if your research resonates with the people it is meant for, it eventually finds its power,” he added.
The forum takes place against a backdrop of mounting climate-health threats. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that climate change will contribute to approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050, due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. In sub-Saharan Africa, communities are already grappling with compounding disasters — from prolonged droughts and floods to rising food insecurity and climate-linked displacement.
Fatima Mohammed Cole, Deputy Regional Director, UNHCR noted that climate events are intensifying vulnerabilities in already fragile humanitarian contexts.
“In Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, we see climate shocks accelerating displacement and deepening vulnerability,” said Cole. “Climate change is not a distant threat — it’s already with us.”
This convergence of climate risks and humanitarian emergencies calls for a reimagined approach to research and response — one rooted in local knowledge, equity, and mutual accountability.
Professor Alastair Ager, Chair of Elrha’s Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Advisory Group, recalled the enduring impact of witnessing the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 — a moment that continues to shape his outlook on crisis research today.
“That moment has stayed with me for 30 years,” Ager said. “We must ask ourselves: What would we do differently today, in a world where the climate emergency collides with human suffering on this scale?”
Throughout the forum, participants have been reflecting on what it means to do research that is not only rigorous but also ethical, inclusive, and relevant to the communities it intends to serve.
One of the forum’s guiding principles is to challenge extractive research models where data is used to drive insights and publications without meaningful involvement of local actors in setting the research agenda or benefiting from its outcomes.
The event is also expected to explore how funding structures can be reoriented to support long-term African-led initiatives, rather than short-term externally driven projects. Discussions have centered on building institutional capacity, supporting early-career researchers, and ensuring that research outputs translate into tangible policy and health system improvements.
As the forum continues into its final day, it is expected to culminate in a shared vision for more just and effective research partnerships, with commitments to advancing climate and health resilience through knowledge that is both locally rooted and globally informed.
