Climate risk communications in the humanitarian health sector in East Africa: A case study from Médecins Sans Frontières

Olive Toran , Lekha Rathod, Carol Devine, Leo Tremblay, Emmanuel Yussuf , Umberto Pellecchia 

By 2030, it is estimated that the number of medium- to large-scale disaster events may increase to 560 per year compared to 400 in 2015. People less than 60 years of age in 2020 have been estimated to experience unprecedented extreme climate event exposures; the risk is even greater for younger generations as the planet gets warmer. This descriptive study aimed to explore how Médecins Sans Frontières’ (MSF) Humanitarian Action on Climate and Environment (HACE)’s climate risk communication between 2020 and 2024 supported MSF’s operational readiness in Kenya and South Sudan. The critical analysis employed a qualitative mixed-methods approach, incorporating documentary review, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs). The findings offer insight into both the strengths and the limitations of current practices, as well as opportunities for more tailored strategies that support humanitarian actors in responding to climate-related health emergencies. This study highlights the critical but underdeveloped role of climate risk communication—an emergent area situated at the intersection of climate change communication and risk communication—in supporting humanitarian operations. There is a clear demand for communication that is timely, localized, simplified, and action-oriented—characteristics that are not fully captured in existing frameworks of either climate change or risk communication. Humanitarian organizations, various national and international organizations responding to climate emergencies, are uniquely positioned to contribute to, and benefit from, the development of this field; this is an area of potential research. Ultimately, as climate change intensifies, the ability to communicate risk will be as critical as any medical or logistical response. By contributing to the development of climate risk communications, humanitarian organizations can improve not only their own readiness but also help define new global standards for risk-informed action in the age of climate crises, thus establishing a community of practice.