Students in Dr. Jennifer Bussell’s Policy Research Project course at the LBJ School of Public Affairs discuss their year-long assessment of the capacity of select African countries to prepare for and respond to natural shocks, especially those caused by climate change. Students traveled to select African countries including Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to conduct field research and interviews in order to evaluate the capacity of African governments to respond effectively to crisis situations.