News Archive

European satellite data key to African nowcasting

Throughout Africa, lives and livelihoods are directly impacted by weather- and climate-related risks. Strengthening national meteorological and climate science capacities holds transformational potential for building climate-resilience across the continent in the coming decade. Nowcasting capability and capacity is an essential part of this goal, delivering warnings and alerts of highly unstable African storms minutes to … Continue Reading

Weather forecasts advance Nigeria’s fight for food security

Scientists are developing custom weather forecasts for Nigeria’s agriculture sector, equipping farmers to feed the country’s growing population. Meteorologists at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) are independently developing their own sub-seasonal forecast products for the first time through the GCRF-African SWIFT programme. The result is a critical step towards achieving food security and improving livelihoods … Continue Reading

Weather forecasts signal meningitis outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa

Scientists are using weather forecasts to predict the location and scale of impending meningitis outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa. It is part of an early-warning system being piloted with the aim of giving health agencies more time to activate emergency response plans. The approach – pioneered by ACMAD, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development, and … Continue Reading

Statement on UKRI funding cuts

UK Research and Innovation has announced a significant cut to the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) as a result of the UK government’s decision to reduce spending on international aid. The GCRF African SWIFT team first learned about the cuts to the GCRF programme in a letter that UKRI published on Thursday, 11th March. Although … Continue Reading

‘Creating possibilities and giving hope’: on the GCRF frontline

UK Research and Innovation has announced a large cut to the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) as a result of the Government’s decision to reduce spending on international aid. GCRF was established to target the best of Britain’s research effort at the big problems facing the world. The University of Leeds has been involved in about 150 individual … Continue Reading