Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, like droughts, which can have severe health and economic impacts—especially in low-income settings where people rely on rain-fed agriculture. Children in these populations are especially vulnerable because undernutrition is linked to nearly 50% of all child deaths worldwide.

Evidence gaps exist on how we can build climate resilience in low-income settings and effectively mitigate the most severe consequences of climate change for children. In this pre-print, Weather Shocks, Child Mortality, and Adaptation: Experimental Evidence from Uganda, researchers analyzed data from Living Goods’ first randomized controlled trial to examine if improved access to community healthcare reduced the risk of under-5 mortality during weather adverse events.

They found that in the areas where Living Goods-supported CHWs operate, there was a 46% reduction in under-five mortality compared to control areas following rainfall deficit seasons.

We are very encouraged by these results and what they signal: that an effective CHW workforce significantly reduced the number of children who might have died due to drought, and that investing in improved community healthcare helps build climate resilience in low-income areas. We are now reviewing our programs with a climate lens to assess potential evolutions, new approaches and innovations to mitigate and adapt to climate change.