Implementation of First Masterclass for Climate and Health Negotiators’ Curriculum Heralds New Chapter for Africa

The first masterclass heralds the critical implementation phase of the first of its kind curriculum for Africa’s climate negotiators, centering health as a critical sector for climate action.

Dar-e-Salaam, 8 October, 2025: After the launch at ACS2 of the Climate Change and Health Negotiators’ Curriculum a month ago, Amref Health Africa and partners have rolled-out its implementation with the first masterclass in Dar-e-Salaam, Tanzania.

The first-of-its-kind curriculum, which aims to equip African negotiators with the technical expertise, advocacy tools, and evidence to place health at the centre of climate negotiations and financing frameworks, is being implemented in partnership with Amref International University, African Group of Negotiators Experts Support, with support from Wellcome Trust. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first masterclass for African Group of Negotiators thematic leads, Dr Richard Muyungi, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), and Climate and Environmental Advisor to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, highlighted the importance of the curriculum to Africa’s climate and health agenda, pledging his total support: 

“We are seeing health being impacted in multiple ways, due to floods, lack of water, increased temperatures and ecosystem shifts. We are also seeing malaria and dengue fever in parts of the continent that have never had them before. This is one area we need to be bold and candid about, to ensure that health is part of our negotiations. It is for this reason that I have made climate and health as part of our key agenda during our tenure as Chair of the group. Practically, we have pushed this agenda and is imbedded in the Clean Cooking Initiative, which Tanzania, under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is championing on behalf of the African Union. I am therefore delighted that African institutions such as Amref have taken up this role of championing the climate and health agenda in practical terms. This curriculum is surely a game-changer for the negotiators. As chief negotiator for the continent, I pledge my unwavering support and solidarity to Africa’s adaptation agenda of which health resilience is critical.”

And Dr Francis Namisi of Amref International University highlighted the importance of Africa taking leadership in shaping the future of both people and planet, pointing out that the curriculum is a declaration of Africa’s united voice on climate and health. 

“This curriculum is not just a document—it is a declaration. A declaration that Africa will no longer negotiate from the margins. That our voices will be informed, strategic, and united. That our health systems, our communities, and our future will be protected through bold, evidence-based advocacy.”

Meanwhile, Dr Florence Temu, Amref Health Africa Tanzania Country Director, pledged the country team’s readiness to support in-country roll-out and visibility of the curriculum implementation.

“As part of the big Amref family, we are honoured to host this first masterclass of negotiators’ curriculum, which is being heralded as a key milestone in our climate and health advocacy journey as an institution. A number of partners are already inquiring on how they can get exposed to this curriculum, and Amref Tanzania stands ready to support in-country roll out and visibility of this programme to ensure successful implementation. We are equally happy to highlight one of our climate resilient project here in Tanzania; the Afya Himilivu in Pangani, where, with support from the Irish Embassy, we are strengthening community and primary healthcare systems to be climate-resilient while improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) and nutrition outcomes. The project supports training of Community Health Workers (CHWs) on climate-smart health interventions, as well as linking them with the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), for timely delivery of weather and climate information directly to communities. This approach equips communities to anticipate and respond to climate-related health risks, from floods and droughts to high-wind events, while promoting nutrition resilience and climate-informed health education.”

In summing up the official opening session, Amref Health Africa Acting Director for Social Determinants of Health David Nieuwe Weme hailed the occasion as another milestone in Amref’s quest for climate justice and equity: 

“For us at Amref, the ultimate goal remains equitable climate-health action through primary health care strengthening, climate-resilient infrastructure, early-warning systems, surveillance, and innovative community-centred adaptation solutions, and rolling out this curriculum for the group of negotiators in support of this aspiration, is a fulfilling undertaking. We look forward to two days of open and engaging exchange.”

Just as it took decades of persistence for “Loss and Damage” to be recognised and operationalised, the health sector remains resilient, patient, and consistent in its advocacy to achieve a similar breakthrough. And the curriculum is part of deliberate efforts to nurture a movement where health is no longer an afterthought, but a central pillar of climate action.

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).

About the AGN

The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) is a technical body of the three-tier African negotiating structure that engages in the technical negotiations during the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and the intersessional negotiations on Climate Change. It was established in 1995 with the objective of representing the interests of Africa in the international climate change negotiations, with a common and unified voice.

The AGN prepares and drafts negotiating text and common positions at COPs, guided by decisions and key messages from the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), the highest decision-making tier and the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN), the second highest decision-making tier.  

Its structure comprises of Lead Coordinators and Strategic Advisors, thematic coordinators, former AGN Chairs and UNFCCC focal points of the 54 African Member countries and the Secretariat. The Group is currently chaired by the United Republic of Tanzania through Dr. Richard Muyungi, who serves as Special Advisor to H.E, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, on climate change and environment.

Media Contacts

Friday Phiri

Climate and Health Advocacy Lead, Amref Health Africa (Friday.Phiri@amref.org)