Description:

Recent public health crises-such as COVID-19, epidemics, and climate-related emergencies-have underscored the need for resilient, community-based health systems in Africa. Many countries depend on Community Health Workers (CHWs) for basic services, yet these systems remain fragile. CHWs are vital for reaching underserved populations, but strategies to adapt their roles within the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) framework for climate-related challenges are limited. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Societies partner with health authorities to strengthen health security. In 2022, the African CDC and IFRC launched the Resilient and Empowered African Community Health (REACH) program to train and scale up 2 million CHWs, addressing workforce gaps. The Canadian Red Cross (CRC), with 15 years of CHW support in Africa, will collaborate with IFRC to gather and analyze program evidence.

Main Objective: Examine policies and strategies for integrating climate action into community health programming by aligning the disaster risk management (DRM) cycle to enhance health outcomes, security, and system resilience in Africa. Specific Objectives:

1. Assess the current status of community health programs in Africa, with a focus on IFRC initiatives addressing fragile health systems and climate-related challenges.

2. Highlight key lessons from 15 years of CRC experience with CHW programs in Africa.

3. Examine policy and strategic approaches for aligning climate action with the DRM cycle to build sustainable, climate-resilient community health systems.

1. Current state of community health and health security in Africa: Insights from IFRC and REACH on practical approaches under climate stress.

2. Lessons from CHW programs: CRC's 15-year experience in strengthening community health in fragile and climate-affected settings.

3. Policy and strategy alignment: Integrating climate action into community health through the DRM cycle to improve resilience and outcomes in humanitarian settings.

Integrating climate action into community health through the DRM is essential to strengthen health security, system resilience, and service delivery in Africa. Leveraging CHWs and lessons from humanitarian actors like the CRC and IFRC can drive sustainable, climate-resilient health solutions in fragile and climate-affected settings.

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