By Ezaruku Draku Franklin

A cross section of civil society organisation in Africa have called for more funding and transparency ahead of the 29^th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) set for Baku, Azerbaijan

Under the African Coalition of Communities Responsive to Climate Change (ACCRCC), the forum members have asked all the concerned for research and improved funding mechanisms to tackle the escalating mental health challenges associated with climate-related crises.

Dr Rosalid Nkirote, the Executive Advisor at the ACCRCC said the situation right now is so dire that much needs to be done to improve the mental health of those most affected by providing more funding to combat impact of climate change

“There is need to escalate the dire need of integrating mental health considerations within climate response strategies across Africa and the wider global community, particularly now that world leaders are set to meet at COP29,” she said.

COP29 kicks off today, Monday November 11, 2024 at the Azerbaijan city of Baku, with African countries demanding for more voices from the continent.

Dr Nkirote said Africa continues to bear the brunt of climate-related disasters, such as floods, droughts, and displacement, but that how these are increasingly affecting mental well-being across vulnerable communities no one seems to care.

Dr Nkirote stressed the need for policies that recognize the unique mental health impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations, including those affected by displacement and disease outbreaks.

She said cCulturally relevant interventions and long-term studies were highlighted as critical to developing tailored, effective responses.

“It is crucial to integrate mental health into climate resilience strategies,” Dr Nkirote said, emphasizing the need for policy frameworks that prioritize mental health alongside physical health.

Dr Decide Mumbundo a disaster risk expert from South Africa emphasized the importance of embedding equity into climate and mental health responses, urging for community-driven approaches to resilience-building., a keynote speaker, emphasized the importance of embedding equity into climate and mental health responses, urging for community-driven approaches to resilience-building.

David Luganda a climate journalist from Uganda said the country’s role in regional climate initiatives cannot be ignored. He said Uganda provided a model for other countries to learn from when dealing collaboratively with the issue of climate change.

He said there is need to increase regional training and mentorship programs to climate journalists to effectively break down the complex climate change stories for the common person to understand.

Addressing the funding gaps in climate and mental health interventions, Dr Lydia Gachahi, climate scientist and educationist proposed creating a centralized funding portal that would aggregate grants, scholarships, and fellowships to support ongoing and new initiatives.

The Forum demanded a concrete funding pathways from COP29 that will make it easy for vulnerable communities access funds for their various climate action by ensuring that eligibility criteria align with local needs.

Henry Neondo, an advocacy and communication specialist advocated for integrated, multi-disciplinary research that includes cross-border and -sectoral collaborations.

Addressing the ripple effects of climate change—such as displacement and disease, he noted, requires coordinated responses that bolster the resilience of host communities.

“We need comprehensive solutions that consider both mental health and livelihoods,” he said.

Several speakers pointed out the often-overlooked mental health impacts, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress, and the challenges in measuring these immediate impacts.