Project duration: 2023 - 2025
Coordinator: ICOS ERIC
Partners: ICOS ERIC, University of Pretoria, University of Witswatersrand, Kenya Meteorological Department, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Funding: EU Horizon
Website: https://kadi-project.eu/
KADI - Knowledge and climate Services from an African observation and Data research Infrastructure
KADI (Knowledge and climate Services from an African observation and Data research Infrastructure) is an interdisciplinary African–European cooperation project that designs and pilots science-based concepts for atmospheric and climate service infrastructures in Africa. The project aims to support the development of high-quality climate science and services tailored to the African context - key tools for advancing climate action in line with the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
At its core, KADI seeks to strengthen the knowledge base on climate change in Africa and to co-create solutions for addressing its impacts. The project brings together a diverse consortium of partners from both Africa and Europe, integrating a wide range of expertise and perspectives. Through this collaboration, KADI develops comprehensive concepts for climate services that respond to societal needs by aligning research capacities with local demands and expectations. The ultimate goal is to enable the implementation of climate service infrastructures that are both impactful and sustainable.
Research infrastructure for climate services
The University of Turku contributed to several thematic areas within KADI, focusing on the design of research infrastructures for climate services in Africa. Working in collaboration with European and African university partners, such as University of Pretoria, University of Witwatersrand, South African Environmental Observation Network, we gathered extensive information to inform the infrastructure design.
Our activities included reviewing existing research infrastructures and climate services to identify best practices and lessons applicable to the African context. We also facilitated multiple stakeholder engagement workshops to capture insights from African experts. These discussions helped us identify critical needs related to data access, digital infrastructures, and emerging smart technologies, as well as key collaboration networks and communication channels.
This knowledge was synthesized into a set of recommendations tailored to the diverse geographical and thematic contexts across Africa. While technical components - such as observational networks, monitoring systems, and sensors - are fundamental, our findings emphasized the equal importance of ‘soft’ elements. These include communities of practice, dissemination strategies, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation processes. Together, these components enhance the sustainability, adaptability, and impact of research infrastructures.
The outcomes of this work were compiled into a research infrastructure blueprint, led by the KADI project leader ICOS ERIC, University of Turku and Trinity College of Dublin. This blueprint is intended to guide future projects and institutional collaborations in establishing effective research infrastructures that support climate resilience, adaptation, and improved well-being across the African continent.
Climate service pilot in Dar es Salaam
University of Turku also led a climate service pilot in Dar es Salaam, in close collaboration with Ardhi University, our long-term cooperation partner in Tanzania. This was one of several KADI pilots across different thematic and geographic contexts. In total, six climate service pilots were conducted during the project, of which three were conducted in cities - Dar es Salaam, Abidjan and Nairobi.
The Dar es Salaam pilot, along with initiatives in the two other cities, explored how data on climate risks, such as air quality, extreme heat, and greenhouse gas emissions, can be integrated with other urban data to create holistic, locally relevant climate services. Our goal was to establish data-driven infrastructure and partnerships that combine high-precision observations, low-cost sensor technologies, and citizen science with existing digital datasets. These integrated approaches were tested for their potential to inform decision-making and improve urban quality of life.
Drawing on the University of Turku’s long-standing collaboration with Tanzanian institutions, we co-developed the pilot with Ardhi University. The pilot built on experience from the Resilience Academy and focused on three pressing climate stressors in Dar es Salaam: flooding, extreme heat, and air pollution. Notably, the latter two are underrepresented in current disaster risk management strategies.
Due to the scarcity of in-situ measurements, we piloted an innovative community-based approach. Using mobile data collection tools, higher education students facilitated a participatory mapping campaign involving local citizens and urban stakeholders. Together, we identified locations affected by climate stressors, urban features that exacerbate them, and potential pathways for mitigation. The results highlighted both the practicality of community-driven data collection in data-scarce environments and the value of lived experience in understanding urban climate risks.
