This curriculum marks a historic step for Africa, shifting the continent from being participants in climate negotiations to being agenda-setters, ensuring that health is recognised as the human face of climate change.
Addis Ababa, 10 September 2025: At the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), Amref Health Africa, Amref International University (AMIU), and the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES), with support from the Wellcome Trust, launched the Climate Change and Health Negotiators’ Curriculum, a first-of-its-kind initiative to strengthen Africa’s voice in global climate negotiations.
The curriculum aims to equip African negotiators with the technical expertise, advocacy tools, and evidence they need to place health at the centre of climate negotiations and financing frameworks.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Modi Mwatsama, Head of Capacity and Field Development for Climate and Health at Wellcome Trust, underscored the urgency of catalytic action: “This is the moment to roll out training sessions, strengthen AGN’s leadership, and ground Africa’s climate diplomacy in science and sustainability.”
Dr Ama Essel, AGN Lead Coordinator on Climate and Health, called for a unified approach: “The science is there, but how we frame and communicate it is the value proposition. This curriculum is right on time, it will help Africa negotiate with a strong, common position.”
Dr Petronella Adhiambo, Capacity Building Officer at AGNES, added: “Negotiators are advocates for Africa’s health priorities. With the right evidence and framing, we can shift global discussions to reflect the realities of our people.”
Dr Jeremiah Mushosho, WHO AFRO Regional Team Lead for Climate Change, emphasised the importance of aligning efforts with the Global Plan of Action, while civil society voices, including the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), reinforced the need for advocacy “soldiers” who can sustain pressure for health in climate talks.
Desta Lakew, Group Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at Amref Health Africa, noted: “Communities are the true front line of the climate crisis, as the health impacts of climate change are felt first in villages, towns, and cities. For Africa to build resilience, negotiators, governments, civil society, and scientists must work together to ensure health is firmly embedded in the UNFCCC and COP agendas.”
Closing the session, Mr Naveen Rao, Senior Vice President of the Health Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation, delivered a stark reminder: “Health is the human face of climate change. Yet when you search for images of climate change, you only see the human face after page six. We must change that narrative.”
Just as it took decades of persistence for “Loss and Damage” to be recognised and operationalised, the health sector must remain resilient, patient, and consistent in its advocacy to achieve similar breakthroughs. Above all, governments must appoint health focal points in national negotiation teams so that Africa speaks with one strong voice, ensuring health is no longer left behind in climate diplomacy.
About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the largest Africa-based international health and development organisation, providing training and health services to over 20 million people annually in at least 30 African countries. Amref continues to evolve and innovate approaches to expand sustainable health access, tackling global health emergencies, communicable and non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, maternal and child health, as well as water, sanitation, and climate change. Much of our credibility with local communities and African governments stems from the trust we have built over the past 68 years. Our subsidiaries include Amref Flying Doctors and the Amref International University (AMIU).
Media Contacts
Erick Achola, Global Communications Manager, Amref Health Africa ([email protected]).