UNELD-Africa
Unpacking non-economic loss and damage to advance science and policy action in Africa
While economic losses from climate change—such as damage to infrastructure and livelihoods—are well-documented, the non-economic impacts remain poorly understood, particularly in Africa. Non-economic loss and damage (NELD) includes harm to human health, cultural heritage, biodiversity, and social systems, as well as displacement and disruptions to community structures. These losses are difficult to quantify but have profound long-term consequences, often exacerbating vulnerabilities and deepening inequalities.
This project aims to close the knowledge gap on NELD by synthesising data from the past decade to identify key risks and trends across Africa. The team will focus on three priority sectors—health, agriculture, and displacement—using a combination of hazard and risk assessments, geospatial analysis, and policy reviews. By integrating demographic and climate data, they will explore how NELD manifests across different regions and communities, assess its socio-economic implications, and provide projections for the coming decade.
To support evidence-based policymaking, the project will engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and community organisations, to co-design a methodological framework for assessing NELD. Additionally, the team will develop an interactive dashboard to visualise projected loss and damage scenarios, providing decision-makers with accessible tools for adaptation planning. The research findings will also inform national policies, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and contribute to global discussions on loss and damage, including financing needs for vulnerable communities.
By strengthening the evidence base for NELD and fostering collaboration between African and international experts, this project will help ensure that climate policies account for the full scope of climate-related harm, leading to more comprehensive and equitable adaptation strategies.
Project Team:
- Edmond Totin (Université Nationale d’Agriculture & World Vegetable Center)
- Joyce Kimutai (Kenya Meteorological Department)
- Emily Boyd (Lund University)
- Andrew Emmanuel Okem (Deltares & University of KwaZulu-Natal)
- Mark New (University of Cape Town)
- Petra Tschakert (Curtin University)
- Delphine Deryng (European Centre for
- Medium-Range Weather Forecasts)
- Rachel Bezner Kerr (Cornell University)
- Rodrigue Idohou (Université Nationale d’Agriculture)
- Portia Adade Williams (Science and Technology Policy Research Institute)
- Alice Bonou (Université Nationale d’Agriculture)
- Charity Osei-Amponsah (International Water Management Institute)
- Bhim Adhikari (International Development Research Centre)
- Nfamara K Dampha (University of Minnesota)
BAOBAB synthesis research teams are supported through the BAOBAB project, which is jointly funded by UK aid through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands as part of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) research programme and Step Change initiative.
