Extreme Heat Forecasting & Risk Reduction

We help people in cities and fragile contexts, in the Global South, anticipate and respond to extreme heat - one of the fastest-growing climate risks.

The problem we solve

Extreme heat is rising fast, but early warning systems are not keeping pace.

Extreme heat is one of the deadliest climate risks globally, yet remains one of the least monitored and least communicated hazards, particularly in rapidly urbanising and fragile contexts. Without effective forecasting and communication, heat risks remain invisible, putting millions at risk. Resurgence is expanding our inclusive early warning service to ensure extreme heat risks are anticipated and acted upon.

DARAJA Early Warning and Heat Preparedness, Sudan

Our impact

From 2026, with continued support from the WISER programme, we are expanding DARAJA to include dedicated extreme heat services in Kampala (Uganda), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), cities across Sudan, India, the Philippines and Indonesia. We are strengthening national forecasting capacity in extreme heat forecasting, engaging health and media sectors, and equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to act before heat becomes a crisis.

What we deliver

National Heat Forecasting Capacity

We co-design heat forecast products with meteorological agencies.

Media & Health Sector Integration

We engage media and health actors through co-design workshops and build capacity to interpret and communicate heat risk.

Targeted Dissemination

We expand reach through media partnerships and trusted communication channels.

Community Preparedness & Action

We support awareness campaigns, develop extreme heat Early Action Plans, and build local DARAJA heat risk reduction champions.

Local Adaptation Solutions

We pilot practical interventions such as cooling stations, tree planting, reflective roofing, and mobile health support.

Heat Communication Guide for Cities in South Asia (Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, 2022) with Resurgence et al.

View Document

How it works

Phase 1

Heat Forecast Co-Design

We work with national meteorological agencies to co-develop accessible, impact-based heat forecast products built for the communities most at risk.

Phase 2

Media & Health Sector Engagement

We bring media, health, and community actors into co-design workshops to identify health based thresholds (triggers), building shared capacity to interpret and communicate heat information effectively.

Phase 3

Community Awareness and Early Action Plans

We disseminate heat warnings through trusted media and social media channels and community networks, ensuring they reach those with the least protection and the greatest exposure. We co-design heat-focused early action plans that translate forecasts into community-level preparedness and protective action.

Phase 4

Local Adaptation & Scaling

We promote practical, community-oriented solutions including cooling stations, rainwater harvesting, and reflective roofing to reduce heat exposure at the local level. We train local heat risk reduction champions and pilot physical adaptation interventions — building community resilience that lasts beyond our direct engagement.

DARAJA is not known so much as Weather Mtaani in my community, but DARAJA came through as a saviour to people’s lives and how they were living. And it has prevented them from losing their property and losing their lives.

James Kirika

Laini Saba resident

“We monitor rainfall and drainage levels. When thresholds are reached, we send alerts to DARAJA Climate Champions, who share them with the community. This collaboration ensures forecasts are not just data, but life‑saving information.”

Dr. Isaac Mugume

Assistant Commissioner, Forecasting Services, Department of Meteorological Services, Uganda

“Before DARAJA, floods used to take lives. Children could not go to school. And for us women we fell sick. Every time we stepped into the flood water, we contracted Bilharzia, plus urinary tract infections. We also suffered from Cholera.”

Allen Kyomuhendo

Community Resident, Katogo Zone, Kawempe Division, Bwaise, Kampala, Uganda

“When you want to start a project like DARAJA you need to involve all those important stakeholders, especially from the city authorities and the community. Because we need to have community involvement from the beginning.”

Prudensiana Luckago

Community Development Officer, Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI) Tanzania

“We worked with residents to map safe routes and rescue points. This participatory approach ensures the plan reflects local knowledge and lived experience.”

Catherine Nimusiima

ACTogether Uganda, DARAJA Project Manager

“Personally, I was not seeing weather information as an important part of my day-to-day life before DARAJA. At school we had low attendance of students about more than approximately 10% per each class during the rainy season because most of the students live in this flood plain or lower Msimbazi basin but we did not foresee that, by just following and using detailed or advanced weather information, we could boost and maintain students’ attendance at school and contribute to a better academic performance. We learnt this through the DARAJA project.”

Esther Lugulu

School teacher at Gilman Rutihinda Primary School located at Kigogo Mbuyuni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“I look forward to working with Resurgence and DARAJA, and all stakeholders to provide the best available science necessary for addressing climate change challenges particularly in developing countries.”

Dr. Ladislaus Chang’a

Vice Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Acting Director, Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA)

Credit: The Chanzo Reporter

“DARAJA is an iconic example of radical, disruptive collaboration in climate services for the urban poor.”

Dr. Aditya V. Bahadur

Director, Red Cross Climate Centre

Credit: Finnish Red Cross

“That’s what DARAJA means to me — it’s about connection, because that’s what bridges do. As an implementer and partner in DARAJA, in Nairobi, we want to scale it up and ensure it continues to connect diverse communities across the region. When a woman in a slum can challenge a planning professional, we know we’ve made progress.”

Regina Opondo

Senior Community Principal, Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)

“Governance and trust are as essential as protocols — without trust, the most vulnerable will not act on warnings.”

Sheela Patel

Climate Champions Global Ambassador; Founder, Slum Dwellers International (SDI)

Credit: IISD

“DARAJA is now part of Kampala’s disaster planning. It shows how city authorities and communities can work hand in hand.”

Henry Bwire

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Kawempe division

“We have unpredictable weather. We have fishermen going out at night and then they have to rush back. But now they’re getting the weather forecasts, it tells them a little ahead of time what weather to expect. So now they will be more prepared.”

Nadine Earle

BReTCAT (DARAJA Replicator Model) community stakeholder, Jamaica

“The nature of DARAJA requires some sort of partnership, so strengthening the partnership with the private sector is one of our approaches to solving the problem. The other approach is bringing the community on board to understand and give value to the climate information.”

Tarekegn Abera

Executive Officer, Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (EMI)

“When we hear the warning, I tell my mother to pack our bag. We keep water, food, and documents ready.”

Primary school student participant, DARAJA Kampala service

Bwaise, Kampala, Uganda

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