About
Shaping the Future: The Resilience Academy Approach
Future digital data production models supporting informed decision-making need to be more transformative – locally driven, low complexity, fit the purpose and context, and engage local talent so that decisions are reliable, owned locally, and made actionable over time.
Resilience Academy is a unique partnership of African and international universities and organizations dedicated to developing digital expertise and practical experiences of young people. Together, we leverage digital data and local innovation to strengthen communities and build resilience to climate challenges.
Resilience Academy operates through four interconnected services and partnerships
Digital Geospatial Data Collection
Through our industrial placement and internship programs, university students work hand-in-hand with local communities and industry partners to gather and curate valuable geospatial data. This hands-on approach not only enhances students’ digital mapping skills but also supports communities in building comprehensive, openly accessible spatial datasets essential for spatial planning, decision-making, and climate risk management.
Climate Risk Database (CRD)
Our open-access Climate Risk Database (CRD) serves as a central repository for geospatial data sets and information collected by students and partners. The CRD enables seamless data sharing, fosters innovation through discovery, and supports informed decision-making by providing reliable, up-to-date spatial data for addressing climate challenges.
Online Learning Resources
Resilience Academy offers a wide range of online learning opportunities focused on digital data, technological tools, and climate resilience. These resources are designed to equip young people and partners with critical knowledge and practical skills necessary for meaningful contributions to climate adaptation, risk management, and employment in the digital age.
Research and Innovation Lab
RA Innovation Lab provides a collaborative environment where students, researchers, communities, and industry partners develop and test new, locally relevant digital and green solutions. By bringing together diverse expertise and ideas, the lab fosters creativity and the practical application of emerging technologies to solve real-world urban and environmental challenges in Africa.
Partners
Digital Geospatial Data Platforms
We develop and maintain open, accessible geospatial data platforms to support climate risk analysis, planning, and decision-making.
Data Co-production
We engage communities, students, and government stakeholders in mapping, digitization, and field data collection to create trusted, locally relevant datasets.
Skills Development & Student Engagement
We empower young professionals through practical training, internships, hackathons, fieldwork, and hands-on learning experiences.
Research, Innovation & Living Labs
We support urban resilience research, pilot innovative solutions, and co-create real-world experiments through Living Lab environments.