Walker Institute

What Walker Institute does

Walker Institute, now operating as The Pearl (People & Place, Evidence-based Adaptation for Climate Resilient Livelihoods), is an interdisciplinary climate adaptation research group embedded within the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology in the United Kingdom. The organization advances locally relevant climate information and solutions through the World Climate Research Programme's My Climate Risk Lighthouse Activity framework, working as a founding Global Regional Hub alongside seven sister hubs across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Its core research integrates climate science, meteorology, social science, and community engagement, applied in primary focus regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas with globally transferable methodologies.

Name

Walker Institute

Legal name

The Pearl (University of Reading Department of Meteorology)

Website

https://walker.reading.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Walker Institute (now The Pearl) is a University of Reading climate research group that delivers interdisciplinary climate risk and adaptation research, training, and capacity building to governments, meteorological agencies, NGOs, and vulnerable communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Adaptation Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADALAD

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYBPADALAK

Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYBPAGAGAF

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Climate adaptation research
• Interdisciplinary climate science
• Climate risk assessment
• Capacity building training
• Climate resilient livelihoods

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Walker Institute (now rebranded as The Pearl) is an interdisciplinary research group within the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology that conducts global climate adaptation and risk research. It delivers evidence-based research, training programmes, and capacity building to advance understanding of future climate impacts and support climate-resilient societies, primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, as a founding WCRP My Climate Risk Global Regional Hub.

Product overview

The Pearl (formerly the Walker Institute) is a single unified interdisciplinary research group rather than a modular software platform. It encompasses core research activities in climate adaptation and risk, supported by training offerings (The Pearl Academy, COPCAS® trademarked training programme), and integrates the Rainwatch web platform for climate monitoring data. The organization also offers MSc teaching through the university's Department of Meteorology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Pearl (Interdisciplinary Climate Research Programme)
• The Pearl Academy
• COPCAS® (Climate Outlook Products and Climate Analogues Synthesis)
• Rainwatch
• MSc Teaching (Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed as one of the founding MCR Global Regional Hubs under the WCRP 'My Climate Risk' Lighthouse Activity, working together with other Regional Hubs to advance locally relevant climate information and solutions.
• Climate Futures - Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hub partner in the WCRP My Climate Risk network, contributing to the global initiative for regional climate risk assessment.
• Himalayan University Consortium (ICIMOD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hub partner and collaborator on Asian Mountain Academic Alliance Network, addressing climate resilience in the Himalayan region.
• Ateneo de Manila UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hub partner in the WCRP My Climate Risk network, contributing expertise on climate risk in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Australian Bureau of MeteorologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hub partner contributing meteorological expertise and climate science capabilities to the My Climate Risk network.
• University of Cape TowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hub partner focusing on climate risk research for the African continent within the WCRP My Climate Risk network.
• National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Argentina)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hub partner contributing to climate risk research for Latin America within the WCRP My Climate Risk network.
• University of ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Hub partner contributing expertise on climate risk, particularly for northern and indigenous perspectives within the WCRP network.
• African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner focused on technology studies and innovation for sustainable development in Africa.
• African Risk CapacityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation working on climate risk financing and disaster risk management for African governments.
• Met OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UK Met Office on climate science and weather forecasting for climate resilience research.
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated with WMO through the WCRP programme, advancing global meteorological and climate science standards.
• SightsaversminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner collaborating on the CHAIRR (Climate Health in Africa Integrated Risk Research) project addressing climate and health intersections.
• Lorna Young FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on BRAVE and NIMFRU projects, adapting Farmers' Voice Radio methodology for climate-vulnerable communities.
• World BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment finance partner supporting climate adaptation projects and programmes.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency partner for environmental and climate policy research and advocacy.
• UNFCCCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for UNFCCC COP events and climate policy engagement.
• UNHCRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on climate risk assessment for refugee and displaced populations.
• Red Cross Red Crescent Climate CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian partner for climate adaptation in crisis contexts and disaster risk reduction.
• British Geological SurveyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical collaboration on geological and groundwater aspects of climate adaptation.
• UK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on ecological and hydrological aspects of climate change.
• Future Climate for AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional programme partnership for climate research and adaptation in Africa.
• Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational meteorological agency partnership for climate services development in Ghana.
• Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational meteorological agency partnership for climate information services in Nigeria.
• Evidence for DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for evidence-based approaches to development and climate resilience.
• Practical ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment organisation partnership for technology and climate solutions in developing countries.
• Mott MacDonaldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and development consultancy partnership for climate adaptation projects.
• bracminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge NGO partnership for community-based climate adaptation, particularly in Bangladesh.
• Climate Action Network UgandaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate advocacy and action network partnership in Uganda.
• EcotrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental trust partnership for climate solutions in Uganda.
• University of NairobiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with University of Nairobi for climate research in East Africa.
• Gulu UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Gulu University in Uganda for regional climate research.
• Maseno UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Maseno University in Kenya for climate adaptation research.
• UCAD (Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with UCAD in Senegal for climate science research.
• InsuResilience Solutions FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for climate and disaster risk insurance solutions.
• Climate Change Risk Management (CCRM)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultancy partnership for climate risk management and adaptation planning.
• Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
• Wood (John Wood Group PLC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and consulting partner for climate-related infrastructure projects.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI): Columbia University-based research institute conducting interdisciplinary climate science and applications work for climate-vulnerable communities globally. Directly comparable to The Pearl in combining climate science with societal applications and serving developing-region stakeholders.
• Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): German research institute conducting interdisciplinary climate impact research with applications to adaptation and societal resilience. Comparable as a research institute producing peer-reviewed science alongside policy-relevant outputs.
• Climate Analytics: Climate science and policy institute producing research on climate impacts, adaptation, and loss & damage with strong focus on vulnerable regions. Directly comparable in translating climate science into actionable policy and engagement with UNFCCC processes.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Independent research organisation working at the intersection of environment and development, with strong focus on climate adaptation policy and practice in developing countries. Comparable to The Pearl in mission, methodology (bridging science and policy), and target geographies.
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED): Independent research organisation working on sustainable development, with focus on climate adaptation, livelihoods, and community engagement in developing countries. Comparable in interdisciplinary approach and community-grounded methodology.

Broad incumbents

• National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): US-based research centre conducting atmospheric and climate science with applications to societal resilience. Comparable as a national-scale atmospheric science research entity, though operating at substantially larger scale than The Pearl.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organisation working on environment and development challenges including climate adaptation, with major programmes in Africa and Asia. Comparable as a research entity engaging in climate-vulnerable regions, though operating at far larger scale.
• Met Office Hadley Centre: UK national climate science centre providing climate modelling, projections, and services with global reach. Comparable as a UK-based climate research entity and existing partner of The Pearl, though substantially larger in scope and resources.

Emerging players

• Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre: Humanitarian organisation specialising in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, with strong overlap in target geographies (Africa, Asia) and an existing partner relationship with The Pearl. Comparable in applied climate adaptation focus but with a humanitarian lens.

Regional players

• AGRHYMET Regional Centre: West African intergovernmental climate, agriculture, and water resources centre that is a direct training and research partner of The Pearl. Comparable in delivering climate adaptation training and information services in Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxBQNfpXOYXZTOZy4-fWc1Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-reading-walker-institute
• Xx.com/WalkerInst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Walker Institute