Understanding Systemic Heat-Related Impacts for People in Rural Drylands

Climate change is intensifying heat extremes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with rural communities particularly impacted. However, systemic impacts on these populations are poorly understood, especially regarding how heat-related risks cascade across water, energy, food, and health sectors. This project aims to close that knowledge gap by co-creating actionable insights on heat-related risks in rural SSA through a transdisciplinary approach. We will focus on two heat-prone regions, the Sahel in Senegal and the Limpopo Valley in South Africa, to test a systemic approach to addressing these risks. As an international transdisciplinary team, we will develop a framework that incorporates climate data, local knowledge, and participatory research to understand compounding and cascading risks with a focus on seasonality. A key element of this framework is the co-construction of climate risk storylines that detail how heat extremes affect social-ecological systems and livelihoods, with attention to gender and intersectional vulnerabilities. By integrating quantitative climate analysis with qualitative insights from local stakeholders, the project will foster a more comprehensive understanding of heat-related impacts. The project has three main components: (1) Transdisciplinary co-creation of knowledge on systemic heat risk in SSA, including preparedness and adaptation options for local communities; (2) Designing and disseminating policy interventions for decision-makers to improve resilience in water-energy-food-health systems; and (3) Establishing a transdisciplinary heat action coalition to address systemic heat risks across SSA. Expected outcomes include the development of a validated systemic heat risk framework, policy recommendations for heat adaptation, and the creation of a robust action research network for long-term collaboration on managing extreme heat across SSA. This work aligns with the Belmont Challenge, aiming to mitigate global environmental change through transdisciplinary research and societal engagement.