Kickoff Meeting of the Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa (CHINNOVA) – Partners Converge with a Focus on Strengthening Health Systems’ Resilience to Climate Change

A two-day kickoff meeting for the Climate Change and Health Innovation Hub for West and Central Africa (CHINNOVA) project took place from January 27th to 28th, 2025. CHINNOVA is a 4.8 million Canadian Dollar project funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, and the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office. The project is being implemented from 2025-2028 by a consortium led by the Association of African Universities, in partnership with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land use (WASCAL), Institut Pasteur de la Côte d’Ivoire (IPCI), and the University of Omar Bongo (Université Omar Bongo) in Gabon.

The kickoff meeting was organized by the Association of African Universities (AAU) at its headquarters in Accra, Ghana, in collaboration with WASCAL, IPCI, and Omar Bongo University (UOB). The event marked the formal launch of the CHINNOVA project, where participants clarified their roles and responsibilities, establishing a collaborative framework essential for successful project implementation.

Notable representatives from the organizing partner institutions attended the meeting, including the Principal Investigator and Director of Research and Programmes at the Association of African Universities (AAU), Prof. Frederick Ato Armah; the Director of WASCAL Competence Center in Ouagadougou, Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi; and Dr. Andre Offianan and Dr. Seyni Salack, both from WASCAL. The Institut Pasteur de la Cote d’Ivoire (IPCI) was represented by its Director of Research, Dr. Soumahoro Man-Koumba, Dr. Coulibaly Julien Kalpy, and Dr. Tuo Karim. Prof. Aba’a Ibrahim, a researcher and Core Team Member, represented the University of Omar Bongo (Universite Omar Bongo) and Central Africa at the meeting. Prof. Doku Teye, a core team member of CHINNOVA and the Director at the Directorate of Research Innovation and Consultancy at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), attended the meeting, along with other team members from the AAU’s Secretariat who play various roles on the project.

The meeting commenced with a welcome address by Ms. Nodumo Dhlamini, Director for ICT, Communication, and Knowledge Management at the AAU, who provided an overview of the Association’s history and its integral role in facilitating higher education collaboration across Africa. Prof. Armah outlined the CHINNOVA project’s target to strengthen resilience in health systems to climate change through improving data availability, fostering interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral collaborations, and building the capacity of the health workforce.

Throughout the two-day meeting, participants engaged in substantive discussions covering critical topics related to the implementation of the project’s activities. These discussions were aimed at laying a strong foundation to foster the achievement of results and impact on the target beneficiaries and stakeholders. Participants deliberated on enhancing the availability and interoperability of climate and health data, with a particular emphasis on integrating gender equality and inclusion into health systems. They also discussed plans to address existing knowledge gaps through targeted training and capacity-building initiatives.

Discussions encompassed micro, meso, and macro-level considerations for the project, examining the project’s implications at various scales. The meeting also discussed the explicit roles and responsibilities for each partner institution regarding project execution, data collection, knowledge management, and monitoring and evaluation. Emphasis was placed on the composition of effective knowledge management strategies, including data storage, sharing, and usage, underscoring the significance of open access to data and publications.

A framework for monitoring and assessing the progress and impact of the project was outlined, emphasizing a commitment to continuous learning and adaptive management. Additionally, procedures for financial reporting, budget allocation, and auditing were reviewed to ensure transparency and accountability concerning the project resources.

The CHINNOVA kickoff meeting was a resounding success, achieving several key outcomes. Participants collectively developed a shared understanding of the project’s goals, objectives, and implementation strategies. A collaborative framework was established, clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of each partner institution. The attendees also reviewed the detailed work plan for 2025, specifying key activities, timelines, and deliverables. The meeting facilitated networking among partners and stakeholders, laying the groundwork for stronger collaborations towards the achievement of the project’s goals.