West African nations face pressing climate-related challenges, including environmental degradation, rainfall variability, extreme heatwaves, floods and declining agricultural productivity. The accelerating impacts of climate change, along with socio-economic developments such as population growth and urbanisation, exacerbates climate-related challenges.

The Climate Services for Risk Reduction in West Africa (CS4RRA) initiative, launched in 2023, builds upon achievements and findings of previous JPI Climate activities (Flagship Africa under the SINCERE project). Its overall strategic aim is to develop pathways to climate-resilience in Western Africa by contributing to long-term multinational cooperation.

The objectives of the Climate Services for Risk Reduction in West Africa (CS4RRA) Joint Call for Proposals are to:

• Strengthen the climate resilience of West Africa based on a better understanding of the impacts of climate change.
• Improve climate knowledge, capacities and services for climate risk reduction and adaptation to climate change.
• Strengthen African and European partnership.

Each proposal must address one or more of the following topics:

• Improving early warning systems (following the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) definition).
• Improving operational assessment and prevention of climate security risks.
• Improving financing mechanism and institutional integration of climate services.

All proposals must comprehensively integrate the three core CS4RRA pillars: Knowledge, Capacity Development and Innovation. Inter- and transdisciplinary approaches are strongly encouraged, especially those involving co-designed activities with non-academic stakeholders, including policymakers, community organisations and private sector actors. Proposals must meet specific needs related to climate change addressed by West African stakeholders. They should link research and innovation (including social innovation) bridging scientific excellence to social impact.

Eligible for the call are organisations based in the 16 UN-West African countries and partner organisations in the following participating countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo; and France, Germany, Italy and Norway.

Eligible project consortia must comprise at least three eligible project partners, of these at least two partners must be African institutions from two different African countries and at least one partner has to be a European institution. African leadership must be reflected in the project consortium and proposal. The maximum funding per project is €2 million. The maximum project duration is three years.

An information webinar will be held on 24 June 2025 to present the call and its modalities.