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A comprehensive review of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Africa
Mohamed Saber, Abdulai Osman Koroma, Vithundwa Richard Posite, Aliousseyni Ly, Alhaji M. Tejan Bah, Alhassan Lansah Abdulai, Assou Y. Kokouvi, Boussoury Moutoiwaf et al.. Journal of Water and Climate Change, 2025-04-11
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
ABSTRACT This study evaluates climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts across 12 African countries: Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Benin, Ethiopia, Comoros, Malawi, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. Using a systematic review guided by the PRISMA framework, 257 peer-reviewed studies were analyzed and grouped into key themes: climate-related disasters, biophysical vulnerabilities, socio-economic impacts, national adaptation plans, and adaptation measures. The findings confirm that climate change is already affecting these countries. Uganda, Ethiopia, and Malawi face severe flooding and droughts, highlighting the need for early warning systems combining satellite data and community monitoring. Mali and Senegal are battling desertification, calling for reforestation and sustainable land practices. Agriculture in Nigeria, Kenya, and Mali is impacted by droughts, necessitating resilient crops and improved irrigation. The study stresses the importance of regional cooperation, especially for transboundary risks like Congo Basin floods, and scaling up climate finance in countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone. Strengthening health systems is also vital to combat climate-sensitive diseases. Common barriers include weak institutional capacity, limited funding, and low public awareness. The review calls for integrated, context-specific strategies and stronger collaboration to enhance resilience across Africa.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Saber, M., Koroma, A. O., Posite, V. R., Ly, A., Bah, A. M. T., Abdulai, A. L., et al. (2025). A comprehensive review of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Africa. Journal of Water and Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2025.741
Vancouver
Saber M, Koroma AO, Posite VR, Ly A, Bah AMT, Abdulai AL, et al. A comprehensive review of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Africa. Journal of Water and Climate Change. 2025. doi:10.2166/wcc.2025.741.
BibTeX
@article{saber2025-d334f9c9,
author = {Saber, Mohamed and Koroma, Abdulai Osman and Posite, Vithundwa Richard and Ly, Aliousseyni and Bah, Alhaji M. Tejan and Abdulai, Alhassan Lansah and Kokouvi, Assou Y. and Moutoiwaf, Boussoury and others},
title = {{A comprehensive review of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Africa}},
journal = {Journal of Water and Climate Change},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2166/wcc.2025.741},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2025.741}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Agriculture in Nigeria, Kenya, and Mali is impacted by droughts, necessitating resilient crops and improved irrigation.
- The study stresses the importance of regional cooperation, especially for transboundary risks like Congo Basin floods, and scaling up climate finance in countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone.
- Strengthening health systems is also vital to combat climate-sensitive diseases.
- Common barriers include weak institutional capacity, limited funding, and low public awareness.
- The review calls for integrated, context-specific strategies and stronger collaboration to enhance resilience across Africa.
Why it matters
This systematic review covers climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction across 12 African countries, not Alzheimer's disease. It reports on climate-related disasters, adaptation measures and barriers such as weak institutional capacity and limited funding, and contains no dementia findings.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Water and Climate Change) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Journal of Water and Climate Change: journal h-index 58 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 29 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 53.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 29 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Farag M. Mewafy: h-index 9 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Kyoto University: institution h-index 1,156 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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