Africa Regional Call (ARC)
In support of the African Union’s climate, environment, and sustainability goals and priority areas for Agenda 2063, the National Research Foundation, South Africa (NRF) has led the development of this Belmont Forum Collaborative Research Action (CRA) to address knowledge gaps and priorities in addressing climate change vulnerability across the continent.
Three themes (or areas) of concern emerged from scoping sessions with the community:
- Area 1: Water – Energy – Food – Health Nexus
- Area 2: Pollution
- Area 3: Disaster Preparedness, Responsiveness, and Recovery
In addition to the three call Areas, green and blue economy was identified as a cross-cutting issue and education and awareness were identified as cross-cutting activities to be encouraged.
The CRA call was launched in 2024, with selected projects announced in 2025 and planned durations of 36 to 40 months.
A total of nineteen organizations support this initiative: ANR, BMFTR, FAPESP, FE, FNI, FONSTI, IOC, MSRTI, NCRST, MInT, NRF-KE, NSF, ReGIG, SNSF, SOI, START, TÜBİTAK, WRC, and NRF South Africa (ARC lead).
| ACCENTS-4-CO2 | CO₂ Footprint Reduction & CO₂ Conversion to Green Bio-Engineered Carbonates for Multi-Functional Applications in the Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus |
| BIO-NEXUS | Data-Driven Optimisation of Integrated Engineered Biochars in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Ecosystem for Sustainable Energy, Food, Water and Health Nexus: Focus on South Africa, Ghana and Kenya. |
| Co-Creating Circular Sanitation Systems | Transdisciplinary Research to Co-design, with End Users, a Circular Sanitation Solution (C2S) Combining Local Knowledge, International Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Limpopo, South Africa, and Manica Province, Mozambique |
| CoPPAQ | Policies, Patterns and Processes: Creating Solutions for Air Quality and Extreme Heat for Peri-Urban Inhabitants Using State-of-the-Art Measurements and Models |
| FEAT4AFRICA | Food-Energy-Water-Health Innovations for Sustainable Development in Africa |
| FEWTURE | Bioprospecting Spirulina for Sustainable Food, Energy, Water and Health: a Blue-Green Economy |
| ICWE-SD-CONGO | Integrating Climate, Water, Food and Energy Systems to Achieve Sustainable Development in the Congo Basin |
| PURE-MW | Pollutant Upcycling and Resource Recovery for Environmentally Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Municipal Wastewater Management |
| SHIELD | Understanding Systemic Heat-Related Impacts for People in Rural Drylands |
| Sustainable Solutions for Slaughterhouse and Dairy Industries’ Wastewater Treatment | Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Solutions for Slaughterhouse and Dairy Industries: Integrating Advanced Technologies for Environmental Protection and Water Management |