Young research fellows eager to tackle climate challenges

The selection process behind them, 108 young recipients of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) African Early Career Researchers Fellowship are eager to start interdisciplinary and policy-driven climate research and enhance their visibility by amplifying their voices in science-policy spaces.

The CDKN fellowship was conceived due to a gap in visibility, capacity, and participation of African early-career researchers in major climate-science policy platforms such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Conference of the Parties negotiations. It is one of the initiatives under the ‘Amplifying Voices of African Researchers’ thematic area of the CDKN programme under SouthSouthNorth.

The fellows come from 16 countries across West, East, Central, and Southern Africa, including Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Kenya, Sylvia Hagan, project assistant, said.

“The fellowship will run for six months, beginning in May 2025 and concluding with an in-person session in Ghana. Benefits to fellows include networking and mentorship with experts and experienced peers, capacity-building on how to use modern tools and methodologies for data collection, knowledge brokering, grant writing, communication, and policy engagement. There are also seed grants for research publication and dissemination, platforms for co-creation and collaborative research,” Hagan said.

Knowledge-brokering process

One of the climate fellows, Namibian Maria Nelago Kanyama, said the programme offers more than technical training. She recently completed a PhD in computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain applications for anomaly detection in water systems.

“It [the programme] offers space to learn how to carry research into real-world decision-making. What I am most excited about is the knowledge-brokering process. It is something I believe every researcher should experience. I am looking forward to learning how to co-create with policymakers, how to communicate across disciplines, and how to shape research that lands where it matters,” she said.

“I see this fellowship as a bridge between research and relevance. It will give me the tools to, not only understand science-policy dynamics, but to engage with them in a way that feels impactful.”

One of her most significant projects was the development of a machine-learning model for anomaly detection in smart water metering networks and she will take it forward through the fellowship, Kanyama said.

Staying abreast of developments

Kanyama combined AI techniques with lightweight blockchain to improve water monitoring in communities where advanced metering systems are not yet available. She said the model successfully detected abnormal usage patterns, offering a potential 30% reduction in water loss under simulation.

“My research responded to the challenge of water loss in communities with limited infrastructure, using data science to improve early detection of abnormal consumption. I am currently building on that work by exploring ethical AI and blockchain applications for water diplomacy. The goal is to adapt the insights from my research into tools that can support cooperation over shared water resources, particularly in regions affected by climate stress,” she explained.

Asked how she stays updated with the latest climate research and trends, Kanyama said by “just being curious”. She reads research papers and reports almost daily but also goes beyond the traditional sources.

“I listen to climate podcasts, follow thinkers who challenge the status quo, and join in conversations that explore the intersection of technology and sustainability. I also review papers for journals and conferences, especially those focused on climate tech, which exposes me to emerging ideas and helps me sharpen my thinking.

“But, most importantly, I stay grounded by listening to people on the ground. Research is one thing, lived reality is another. And the best work happens when the two are in conversation,” Kanyama added.

Bridging the gaps

Another fellow, Lindani Mtshali from South Africa, is a PhD candidate in environmental management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He said African universities play a critical and multifaceted role in mitigating the impacts of climate change across the continent.

Mtshali said African universities also serve as knowledge hubs, generating context-specific climate research that informs adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to Africa’s unique environmental, socio-economic, and political contexts.

“Through interdisciplinary research, universities can help bridge the science-policy-action gap and support evidence-based decision-making,” said Mtshali, who is also serving as the senior project officer at the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance.

“Universities are instrumental in capacity-building. By integrating climate change into curricula across faculties and disciplines, they help cultivate a new generation of climate-literacy professionals, policymakers, activists, and educators. Furthermore, African universities have the responsibility to champion local innovation, particularly in supporting nature-based solutions, sustainable infrastructure, community resilience, and inclusive adaptation frameworks.”

Linking research with tangible outcomes

Importantly, universities also serve as spaces for public engagement and civic education, enabling communities to understand, anticipate, and act on climate risks, Mtshali added.

He said that, through partnerships with civil society, government, and international networks, African universities can amplify advocacy efforts, inform national climate strategies, and ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind in the transition toward climate-resilient development.

Mtshali said he attended the recent CDKN Africa Early-Career Research Fellowship onboarding session which provided a comprehensive orientation to the objectives, expectations and opportunities embedded within the fellowship.

One of the key takeaways from the session was the emphasis on applied research and the importance of linking academic inquiry with tangible development and climate adaptation outcomes.

Mtshali said the session highlighted the value of co-production, encouraging fellows to engage, not just with academic knowledge, but also with local, indigenous, and experiential knowledge systems.

“I particularly appreciated the session’s focus on communication for impact, including strategies for policy engagement, storytelling, and knowledge dissemination across different audiences. The onboarding session also introduced us to the diversity of research themes across the fellowship cohort, which underscored the importance of cross-learning and interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex climate challenges on the continent,” he said.