Climate and Health Data Capacity Accelerator

A new global network will train hundreds of data scientists in India and sub-Saharan Africa to work specifically on climate and health problems, then scale that training to reach thousands more through open-source online resources. The social impact sector—nonprofits, government agencies, and community organisations—struggles to use the flood of climate and health data now available. Most data professionals lack the interdisciplinary skills to connect, say, satellite rainfall data with hospital admission records. This project addresses that gap by creating local training hubs that combine data science with domain expertise in climate and health. If successful, the Capacity Accelerator Network could transform how aid organisations, health ministries, and climate adaptation programmes make decisions. Instead of relying on generic data analysts, these organisations would have access to specialists who understand both the statistical tools and the real-world context—for example, predicting disease outbreaks from weather patterns or targeting drought relief using mobile phone mobility data. The open-source model means training materials developed in one region can be adapted and reused globally, multiplying the impact of the initial £5 million investment without requiring new funding for each location.