Innovation Illustration. / PHOTO ; Pexel
In a move highlighting the growing intersection of technology, climate action, and social investment, Wits University has emerged as the only African recipient among fifteen global teams selected by the Bezos Earth Fund for its AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge.
The award, announced in October 2025, underscores the Fund’s commitment to supporting innovative artificial intelligence applications that address biodiversity loss, climate change, and food insecurity worldwide.
The US$1.8 million grant will support the Wits Climate Risk Modelling Project, which leverages cutting-edge machine learning and AI-based weather modelling to improve medium-range forecasting across Africa, beginning with Ethiopia and the broader Horn of Africa region.
The project aims to enhance the accuracy and localization of weather predictions, bolstering early warning systems, supporting climate-resilient agriculture, and empowering local communities with actionable climate intelligence.
“This award enables us to push the boundaries of how artificial intelligence and local data can transform weather forecasting in Africa,” said Professor Rendani Mbuvha, project lead from the Wits School of Statistics and Actuarial Science.
“Through our partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund, we are developing locally grounded, high-resolution weather forecasting models that not only advance scientific frontiers but also deliver real impact for communities and decision-makers across sub-Saharan Africa.”
Launched in 2024, the Bezos Earth Fund’s AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge is a $100 million initiative designed to harness the power of artificial intelligence to tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
The program supports innovators globally, connecting them with resources, mentorship, and technology partners, including AWS, Google.org, NVIDIA Corporation, Microsoft Research, AI2, and Esri.
The new round builds on the success of Phase I, announced in May, which funded early-stage concepts demonstrating AI’s potential to accelerate environmental progress.
“AI can be a powerful ally to help make the world a better place,” said Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund. “These innovators, using AI, are showing us new possibilities by reimagining how we grow food, protect wildlife, and power our planet to make a true impact.”
This combination of funding and technical support creates a global ecosystem for scaling AI-driven solutions with measurable environmental and social impact.
“These projects show how AI, when developed responsibly and guided by science and local knowledge, can strengthen environmental action and ensure its overall impact on the planet is positive,” said Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki, Director of AI and Data Strategies at the Bezos Earth Fund.
The Wits project collaborates closely with national meteorological and hydrological services and AfriClimate AI, a grassroots research community at the intersection of AI and climate science.
By integrating local observational data with global reanalysis and satellite information, the project is designing medium-range forecasting systems that are contextually relevant and scientifically robust.
Beyond technical development, the initiative includes targeted training and capacity building to equip forecasters, researchers, and data scientists with the skills to operationalize and scale the models.
Enhanced forecasts are expected to directly support critical sectors such as agriculture, energy planning, and disaster risk management, enabling communities to make informed, climate-resilient decisions.
“At the Bezos Earth Fund, we’re focused on making AI work for the environment, not the other way around,” said Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki, Director of AI at the Bezos Earth Fund.
“These projects show how AI, when developed responsibly and guided by science, can strengthen environmental action, support communities, and ensure its overall impact on the planet is net positive.”
The Wits project exemplifies how social investment and technology can converge to address pressing environmental challenges while promoting equitable development.
By prioritizing local data, capacity building, and community engagement, the initiative illustrates a model for socially responsible AI deployment in Africa.
As climate change increasingly threatens food security, infrastructure, and livelihoods across the continent, initiatives like the Wits Climate Risk Modelling Project demonstrate the potential for high-impact investments that blend innovation with tangible societal benefits.
The recognition by the Bezos Earth Fund highlights Africa’s role in the global AI-for-climate ecosystem and underscores the importance of localized solutions in the fight against climate change.
About the Bezos Earth Fund
Launched in 2020 by Jeff Bezos, the Bezos Earth Fund is a $100 million philanthropic initiative supporting innovative solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss.
Its AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge, launched in 2024, uses artificial intelligence to accelerate environmental action globally, connecting innovators with mentorship, technical resources, and a network of leading technology partners.
Help us tell more untold stories of African Changemakers!
To DONATE or Pledge: CLICK HERE
