SACCN

Southern Africa Climate Change Network

Climate Action for a Just Africa

Bridging science, traditional knowledge, and community leadership to build a climate-resilient Southern Africa.

"Rooted in Justice, Led by Communities, Anchored in Nature"

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16+ SADC Member States
100+ Member Organizations
8 Strategic Pillars
55M+ People in Focus

Our Purpose

Driving Transformative Climate Action Across SADC

Founded in 2014, SACCN is a premier, multi-stakeholder civil society network operating across all 16 SADC Member States — uniting CSOs, community-based groups, researchers, youth and women's movements, and climate activists at the intersection of climate justice and regional integration.

Southern Africa is one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions, despite contributing less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. SACCN bridges the gap between grassroots realities and high-level policy spaces — uniting, empowering, and amplifying civil society to advance climate justice, equitable resilience, and transformative policy action.

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I am because we are

Ubuntu Philosophy — SACCN's Guiding Spirit

SACCN operates on the fundamental principle that climate action must be integrated, anticipatory, and just — addressing not only ecological and technical dimensions but also the social, economic, environmental, and governance structures that shape vulnerability and resilience.

Climate Justice
Ecological Integrity
Community Leadership
Knowledge Co-Creation

Our Regional Impact

The Scale of SACCN's Mission

16+
SADC Nations Served
55M
Food-Insecure People in Focus
<3%
Global Climate Finance Received
10+
Years of Climate Action

Strategic Framework

8 Pillars of Climate Action

SACCN operationalizes its mission through eight interconnected strategic pillars — from livelihoods and climate finance to agrifood transformation, innovation, early warning, research, governance, and partnerships.

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Livelihoods, Economy and Climate Resilience

Livelihoods & Resilience

Protecting and empowering vulnerable communities through just transitions, inclusive economic transformation, and locally-led adaptive capacity.

Climate Finance, Investments and Optimising Returns

Climate Finance

Democratizing access to climate finance, tracking accountability, and maximizing the returns of every climate investment for frontline communities.

Agrifood – Climate Convergence and Transformation

Agrifood Transformation

Transforming agrifood systems into climate-resilient, regenerative, and smallholder-controlled ecosystems rooted in seed and water sovereignty.

Climate Smart Innovations and Solutions

Smart Innovations

Scaling green energy, climate-smart agriculture, nature-based solutions, and unconventional tools like Climate and Sport across the region.

Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness

Early Warning Systems

Shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive, risk-informed anticipatory action that saves lives before climate shocks peak.

Governance, Institutions and Accountability

Governance & Accountability

Ensuring transparent, rights-based climate governance through natural resources oversight, shadow reporting, and institutional strengthening.

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What Drives Us

Our Core Values

SACCN's values are operational commitments that shape how we govern, partner, and engage with communities across Southern Africa — from Ubuntu philosophy to uncompromising integrity.

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Ubuntu Philosophy

"I am because we are" — centering interconnectedness, collective responsibility, and Pan-African solidarity in everything we do.

Climate Justice & Intersectionality

Prioritizing the rights and leadership of women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities in all climate action.

Subsidiarity & Localization

Ensuring frontline communities lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of every climate solution.

Knowledge Co-Creation

"Two-Eyed Seeing" — integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with empirical science in equal measure.

Integrity, Transparency & Accountability

Maintaining the highest standards in governance, advocacy, and financial management to remain a trusted partner.

Do No Harm

Ensuring all interventions minimize unintended negative social, economic, or environmental consequences.

Frameworks & Partners We Engage

UNFCCC
SADC
African Union
AMCEN
AM-COMET
AM-COW
GCOS
AGN
CAADP
Agenda 2063
Paris Agreement
Sendai Framework

Latest Updates

News & Insights from SACCN

All News
Smallholder farmers tending crops in Southern Africa Advocacy

SACCN Advocates for Indigenous Seeds at SADC Climate Forum

SACCN delegates presented compelling evidence for seed sovereignty protections at the SADC ministerial climate forum, calling for policy frameworks that protect farmers' inalienable rights to save, exchange, and own traditional seed varieties.

Mr Guvava | SACCN Field Team
Community members participating in a climate resilience workshop Community

Community-Led Early Warning Systems Transform Rural Resilience in Zimbabwe

A new SACCN-supported community anticipatory action program in rural Zimbabwe has demonstrated remarkable results, with participating villages experiencing significantly reduced livestock and crop losses during the 2023–2025 El Niño period.

Mr Zvaita | SACCN Secretariat
Dry cracked earth illustrating severe drought conditions in Southern Africa Climate

Southern Africa's Driest Season: SACCN's Response to the El Niño Crisis

As the 2023–2025 El Niño event devastated agriculture across Southern Africa, SACCN mobilized its regional network to coordinate emergency agrifood support, water security interventions, and psychosocial assistance to affected farming communities.

Mr Guvava | SACCN Field Team

A Movement, Not Just a Network

Partner with Us to Build a Resilient, Equitable Future

For over a decade, we have proven that when civil society is united, evidence-based, and strategically focused, we can shift policies, mobilize resources, and transform lives. We invite development partners, governments, NGOs, and private sector allies to join us.

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