Africa Climate Summit 2: Resurgence and DARAJA Partners Champion Community-Led Climate Resilience
Groundbreaking film premiere and interactive dialogue spotlight African innovation in early warning systems
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 9 September 2025
Resurgence and DARAJA partners convened climate leaders, innovators, and grassroots practitioners at Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2) for a powerful dialogue on the continent’s climate future. Our side event asked a critical question: Is Africa Missing Out or Leading the Way? Innovation, Inclusion, and Early Warnings for a Climate-Resilient Future.
World Premiere: “Beyond The Downpour Echoes”
The session’s highlight was the global premiere of “Beyond The Downpour Echoes,” a gripping new film by Kenya’s award-winning filmmaker Ondivow, produced with DARAJA partner, Kounkuey Design Initiative.
The film tells an urgent story: when devastating floods hit Nairobi’s informal settlements in 2024, entire communities were left behind. Government demolitions compounded the crisis. But this isn’t just a story of loss, it’s about remarkable resilience and locally-driven solutions that could transform how Africa prepares for climate disasters.
By centering voices usually excluded from policy discussions, the film makes a compelling case for inclusive disaster planning and stronger early warning systems.
Showcasing African-Led Solutions
The dialogue brought together representatives from Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, Sudan Meteorological Authority, ICPAC, World Meteorological Organization, UN-Habitat, The World Bank, and many more partners to highlight breakthrough innovations:
Ethiopia’s Inclusive Forecasting:
The Ethiopian Meteorological Institute unveiled its new inclusive daily forecast for Addis Ababa, demonstrating how national weather agencies can make critical information accessible to all communities.
DARAJA+AI for the Last Mile:
The UN-awarded DARAJA+AI solution brings early warnings to vulnerable communities, even offline, ensuring life-saving information reaches those who need it most.
Bridging the Gap:
DARAJA, meaning “bridge” in Swahili, links national weather agencies, local governments, civil society, and communities to co-design actionable early warnings and forecasts.
From Vulnerability to Leadership
From floods in Nairobi to heatwaves in Addis, Africa’s climate vulnerability is clear, but so is its capacity for innovation. The session sparked vital conversations about scaling African-led climate adaptation, demanding inclusive financing for hyper-local solutions, and ensuring no community is left behind.
The event underscored that climate resilience requires centering community voices, investing in locally-driven solutions, and ensuring early warning systems reach the last mile.
Acknowledgments
Resurgence extends deep gratitude to DARAJA donor partners UK Aid WISER and the German Federal Foreign Office for making this critical conversation possible.
