The African Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) in Kigali is a crucial platform for advancing health solutions across the continent. This year’s conference, centred on the socio-ecological dynamics of health, comes at a pivotal moment as climate change increasingly threatens the resilience of health systems worldwide. Cordaid is honoured to co-host a session focusing on how to embed climate mitigation and adaptation into health system strengthening.
Led by Cordaid health expert Maarten Oranje, the AHAIC 2025 session will bring together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to drive actionable solutions to make health systems more climate-resilient and to ensure sustainable healthcare access for vulnerable communities.
‘We are eager to engage with the African health community at this vital event, with AMREF as main convenor. Two of the most pressing and interconnected challenges—healthcare and climate change—take centre stage,’ says Oranje. ‘This discussion is more urgent than ever, especially as global political commitment and financial support for climate action, global health, and international cooperation continue to decline.’
Climate Change: Boosting Healthcare Demand, Straining Supply
Maarten Oranje underscores the World Health Organization’s (WHO) assertion that climate change is the single greatest health threat facing humanity. The consequences are far-reaching, affecting human health through worsening air pollution, shifting patterns of infectious diseases, extreme weather events, forced displacement, food insecurity, and mounting pressures on mental health.
‘Climate change not only escalates healthcare demands, placing additional strain on already overstretched health systems, but it also directly threatens health infrastructure itself,’ Oranje explains. ‘Extreme weather events damage and destroy health facilities, disrupt the supply of essential medicines, and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. In Africa especially, health facilities must adapt to these climate-related challenges while also mitigating their own environmental impact. Globally, the health sector is responsible for approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the production and transportation of medical supplies, energy use, and waste management.’
A Sneak Preview of Cordaid’s Session at AHAIC 2025
Cordaid’s AHAIC session will explore how climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts can be embedded into broader health system strengthening (HSS) programming. It will provide valuable insights into integrating climate and environmental initiatives into health facilities and local governance. Special attention will be given to the role of the health workforce and innovative health financing mechanisms that incentivize climate-resilient health practices.
The session will feature three country case studies—South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe—each illustrating practical approaches to climate-resilient healthcare. Following 10-minute presentations on each case, the audience will have the opportunity to engage in Q&A discussions. An external discussant will provide reflections before opening the floor for a broader interactive discussion with participants.
The Urgency of Investing in Climate-Resilient African Health Systems
As Africa faces the disproportionate burden of climate-induced health crises—ranging from extreme weather events to disease outbreaks and food insecurity—the need for resilient, adaptive health systems has never been greater.
‘Extreme weather events lead to widespread food insecurity and malnutrition. Pregnant women and young children, particularly those under five, are the first to suffer the consequences.’
‘Yet, despite this urgency, many outside Africa still perceive climate change as the continent’s least pressing concern, given the challenges of extreme poverty, famine, and conflict. This perspective is both false and harmful,’ says Oranje. It completely misrepresents the impact of climate change. In reality, climate change is a major driver of some of the challenges African countries are grappling with.’
‘Climate change impacts the lives of Africans more severely than those in Europe or the U.S.,’ Oranje continues. ‘People here understand the urgency and the crisis firsthand—no one needs to explain what extreme weather means. I saw healthcare staff in Ethiopia planting trees on their compounds. Not only to beautify the surroundings but also because they recognize trees as essential to combat climate change and to human survival.’
Beyond these misconceptions, another alarming challenge threatens Africa’s response to climate-related health crises: the withdrawal of international support. With development aid and climate action funding facing severe cuts—most notably the recent USAID freeze—global solidarity is faltering at a time when it is needed most. These funding reductions risk undoing years of progress in health and climate resilience, leaving millions even more vulnerable to the cascading effects of climate change.
Climate-Resilience in Healthcare: examples from Zimbabwe
Despite these challenges, Cordaid remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening Africa’s health systems through climate-smart strategies. From pioneering performance-based financing (PBF) approaches that integrate environmental sustainability to supporting renewable energy solutions in healthcare facilities, Cordaid actively contributes to a greener, more resilient health sector. In Zimbabwe, for instance, our work in climate-friendly health system strengthening includes solar-powered vaccine storage and outreach services, ensuring that critical healthcare reaches those in need despite climate-related disruptions.
‘Temperatures have risen sharply over the past two decades, rainfall patterns have shifted unpredictably, and droughts have become increasingly severe. These changes push communities to the brink. Cholera outbreaks, for instance, are on the rise as people resort to drinking from contaminated water sources in desperation. Meanwhile, extreme weather events are devastating subsistence farming—the primary source of food and income for many—leading to widespread food insecurity and malnutrition. Pregnant women and young children, particularly those under five, are the first to suffer the consequences,’ says Trish Mukunyadzi, Cordaid Country Manager in Zimbabwe and AHAIC panelist.
With funding from the World Bank and other donors, Cordaid Zimbabwe has supported health facilities become more climate-smart. ‘This includes a wide range of adaptation and mitigation measures,’ says Mukunyadzi. ‘From cyclone-resistant infrastructure and solar-powered facilities to sustainable outreach transportation, water harvesting and storage systems, ecological waste-management and early warning systems for climate-related disease outbreaks. In response to increasing food insecurity, some of the health facilities we support have even established their own nutritional gardens, providing food for patients both inside and outside the facilities,’ she adds
Examples from Burundi and South Sudan
In Burundi, Cordaid has introduced the ‘Green PBF’ approach, which incentivizes health centres to adopt sustainable practices, including waste management, water conservation, and the use of renewable energy. By training health staff and implementing climate-sensitive performance indicators, we are actively enhancing the sustainability of healthcare delivery. This initiative is being conducted in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, ensuring that climate resilience becomes an integral part of Burundi’s health policy.
In South Sudan, where climate change exacerbates flooding and displacement, Cordaid has implemented both adaptation and mitigation measures. To ensure continuous healthcare access during severe floods, we have supported alternative referral systems, including the use of canoes for patient transport. Additionally, Cordaid has partnered with UNDP to install solar energy systems in 15 health facilities, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of essential medical services. These efforts improve immediate healthcare access and also contribute to long-term environmental sustainability.
A Call for Renewed Commitment
“There’s no running away from climate change. And it’s only going to get worse,” says Mukunyadzi. This reality makes addressing the intersection of climate and health a global imperative that demands collective action.
As Cordaid engages with AHAIC 2025 and beyond, it calls on policymakers, donors, and development actors to strengthen their commitments to global health and climate-resilient healthcare. The future of health—both in Africa and worldwide—depends on sustained investment in adaptation and mitigation efforts, ensuring that no community is left behind in the face of an escalating climate crisis.
If you wish to e-attend AHAIC 2025, including the Cordaid-hosted session (Monday, March 3rd, 11.30 – 13.00 Central Africa Time, 10.30-12.00 Central European Time), you can register here for free and obtain a livestream link.