Africa Must Confront Data Deficits to Enhance Climate Resilience

African Risk Capacity's Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze emphasizes the need for high-quality, reliable data to support climate resilience efforts. The continent's response mechanisms must be equal to the task of addressing escalating climate events. Without ground-level data, instruments like parametric insurance are vulnerable to high basis risk. The World Meteorological Organization notes that Africa has only one-eighth of the weather stations it needs, making data collection challenging. U. N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for urgent action to overcome the shortage of data at COP29 climate talks. African Risk Capacity prioritizes the development of risk profiles, early warning systems, and contingency plans, but acknowledges that its response is only as good as the data that powers it. The organization is working with member states to build a robust disaster data ecosystem and break down institutional silos to co-create solutions with local experts.