How is climate information being factored into long-term decision-making in Africa? During the FCFA scoping phase, four case studies evaluated the needs of users of long-term climate information against the strengths and limitations of current climate science. A CDKN Special Edition Climate and Development Outlook newsletter synthesises a series of lessons learned from the case studies. These lessons relate to, i) opportunities and barriers to the uptake of long-term climate information, and ii) ways to improve stakeholder engagement processes around the use of climate science in adaptation decisions. It also outlines recommendations for enhancing the science–policy interface and ways to encourage uptake of long-term information. Read the CDKN Climate and Development Outlook Special Edition here.