Launch of the Skylark Centre for Climate Security: A New Regional Hub Strengthening Climate–Peace–Security Responses in West Africa
Surge Africa is pleased to announce the launch of the Skylark Centre for Climate Security (SCCS). This initiative follows an extensive period of research, analysis, and strategic engagement concerning the intersections of climate, peace, and security. The Centre is established as a premier regional institution dedicated to fostering evidence-based, Africa-led strategies to address the climate–peace–security (CPS) nexus within West Africa.
Addressing a Critical Gap in the West African Landscape
The Centre was created in response to a growing need for integrated, grounded in local realities, forward‑looking analysis on how climate impacts interact with governance, peace, and security dynamics in the region. While climate risks in West Africa continue to intensify, the knowledge ecosystem remains fragmented, with limited platforms that combine rigorous research, local insights, and strategic policy engagement.
The Skylark Centre fills three key gaps:
A lack of sustained, regionally grounded climate–security expertise to inform national, regional, and global decision‑making.
Insufficient integration between research, policy, and field‑level perspectives, resulting in siloed responses to interconnected risks.
Limited accessible, high‑quality analysis and communication tools that translate complex climate–security dynamics into actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and communities.
The Centre’s establishment responds directly to these challenges, offering a new institutional home for coordinated, credible, and context‑specific climate–security work.
A Mandate Focused on Impact Towards a More Resilient Region
The Skylark Centre will deliver a set of core functions designed to strengthen regional resilience and inform policy processes at all levels:
Research and Analysis: Producing timely, locally informed assessments and analysis, including bi-weekly newsletters and monthly expert interviews, that connect climate trends with peace, security, and governance dynamics..
Policy Engagement: Supporting regional bodies, governments, and international partners with evidence‑based insights to shape climate–security strategies and decision‑making.
Network Building and Convening: Bringing together practitioners, researchers, journalists, and institutions to foster collaboration and reduce fragmentation across the CPS ecosystem.
Strategic Communication and Narrative Development: Enhancing public understanding of the nexus through accessible publications, storytelling, and multimedia products.
Through these pillars, the Centre aims to strengthen early warning, inform policy design, and support more coherent and anticipatory responses to climate‑related risks.
Contact Information
For further information, partnership inquiries, or media requests, please contact:
Website:https://skylarkcentre.com
Email: sccs@surgeafrica.org
LinkedIn: Skylark Centre for Climate Security