Adapting a changing climate in West Africa: A Decade of Building Resilience

By Edwin Obiero, Practical Action Regional Director, West Africa

Over the past decade, two fundamental desires have shaped my worldview: the need to be understood and the drive to understand others. These concepts have come into sharper focus over the last three years as the global conversation on climate change—an issue close to my heart—has taken a new direction, focusing on localisation, decentralisation, and ownership.

In my work as West Africa Director for Practical Action, I have seen firsthand how these ideas translate into action. We’ve been working to help communities at the front lines of climate change and poverty by embedding solutions that enhance resilience in the face of unpredictable weather patterns, floods, and droughts.

Our journey began humbly with just two staff members in Dakar, Senegal, and has since expanded to a team of over 25, impacting thousands of lives in Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

But I’m reminded of a conversation I had recently with a start-up executive advocating for e-commerce in rural Africa. She argued that “the desire for a better life—nice houses, better food, and finer things—was not exclusive to city dwellers”. While she was right, she missed a critical factor: the ability and willingness to pay for these things. Affordability, especially in rural areas, is tied to people’s capacity to build resources and manage the risks they face, such as climate-induced disasters.

According to the World Economic Council (2024), climate and environmental risks now account for half of all global risk categories, making them the number one threat worldwide. This risk is felt most acutely in Central and West Africa, where the 1.5 million people displaced by floods across Niger, Nigeria, and Chad offer just one example of how climate change is pushing communities to the brink. These once-rare occurrences are now increasingly frequent, with rainfall patterns becoming erratic and unpredictable.

The ongoing flood crisis is just one side of the coin. When floods (excess water) are followed by droughts (no water), as we’ve seen, the results are catastrophic. While the immediate loss of life might be mitigated by a quick humanitarian response, the longer-term impacts, ranging from waterborne diseases to destroyed livelihoods and dilapidated infrastructure-continue to devastate communities long after the water recedes.

The rise of climate refugees, once a distant prediction, is now a reality. Communities with the fewest resources, already battling poverty, find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle, attempting to rebuild their lives only to be struck again by another climate-related disaster. These communities are at serious risk of being left behind unless we take meaningful action.

A Decade of Progress and Achievements

In the past ten years, Practical Action’s work has touched the lives of over 40,000 people in Burkina Faso and 60,000 in Senegal. Through an investment of GBP 6 million, we have focused on empowering communities to not just respond to climate hazards but to prepare for and mitigate the risks posed by floods and droughts.

• One of our proudest achievements has been the establishment of Jokalante, a social enterprise that captures and disseminates weather information systems, including early warning systems (EWS). These systems play a crucial role in saving lives, particularly in communities vulnerable to climate catastrophes. Our work has also produced cutting-edge research in energy, agriculture, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), influencing global approaches to development. The ‘Poor People’s Energy Outlook’ series (2010–2019) and the Moving Energy Initiative, in particular, have pioneered market-based approaches to Humanitarian Energy.
• In Burkina Faso, we have installed 136 renewable energy systems that benefit over 15,000 smallholder farmers, most of whom are women and young people. These systems have not only enhanced agricultural productivity by expanding 115 hectares of arable land, but they have also reduced carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and provided organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers by biodigesters.

As we mark this 10-year milestone, we are reminded that big change starts small. The solutions we’ve developed are scalable, replicable, and deeply rooted in local knowledge. By working closely with governments, private sector partners, and local communities, we’ve demonstrated that community-driven solutions can have a lasting impact.

Going Back to Basics

In reflecting on our work, I can’t help but notice a pattern -one that takes us back to the basics of environmental stewardship. We see a resurgence of concepts like afforestation, reforestation, and biodiversity conservation, now rebranded as “nature-based solutions.” What we call sustainable agriculture today is what many communities in the Global South practised long before the advent of intensive farming.

Historically, both men and women worked in harmony with nature, using resources sparingly to ensure future generations could continue to do the same. Climate risks were localized and decentralized, with solutions tailored to each community’s specific context. And it’s time we returned to those principles. We must re-learn from indigenous knowledge and local governance structures to shape meaningful engagement, not just consultation with communities.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Anything for me that does not involve me is against me.” This is the spirit we must embrace as we seek to tackle the climate crisis head-on. Collaboration, gender equity, and bold partnerships are key. Our future lies in innovative, people-centered approaches that address the most pressing challenges of our time.

Commitment to the Future

Looking ahead,  the challenge of climate change will only intensify. Too much water will continue to destroy lives and livelihoods, while too little will cause crop failure and food insecurity. But with the right strategies-rooted in technology, local knowledge, and a deep understanding of social dynamics, we can build resilient communities capable of adapting to these changes.

At Practical Action, we are not just focused on addressing climate risks. We are also deeply committed to addressing gender inequality. As Obama once remarked, “You can’t win a football match if half of the team is not on board.” We recognize that women and young people are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are working to dismantle the barriers that hold them back.

Our future lies in bold partnerships-alliances built on common interests, where innovation and collaboration can bring us to new heights, and faster. As we look forward, we remain dedicated to creating a world that works better for everyone, knowing that the time for ACTION is NOW.

Learn more about our work in West Africa