Empowering Educators for Climate Action: From Grassroots to Governance

The Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED), in collaboration with the US Mission in Pakistan, successfully hosted the final Policy Dialogue for the Climate Action Fellowship 2024 at F-11 College, Islamabad. The event marked the culmination of a yearlong fellowship that empowered 50 educators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as climate champions, catalysing grassroots efforts into tangible policy recommendations.

With the global climate crisis intensifying, KP faces disproportionate risks due to its fragile ecosystems, frequent floods, and glacial melt. Educators are uniquely positioned to mitigate these challenges through awareness and action.

“This fellowship enabled collective action through educators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” said Dr Fozia Parveen, Assistant Professor at AKU-IED and Principal Investigator of the fellowship. “By connecting grassroots initiatives to governance, we aim to drive sustainable, long-term change.” The culmination event also launched two books published by the fellows, one fiction novel and another short story compilation as well as a student contribution from Chitral.

The dialogue brought together policymakers, educational experts, and fellows to discuss integrating climate change education into provincial and national frameworks. Senior representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Climate Change, and KP government attended the event.

Whilst signing the Letter of Notification, Mr Masood Ahmad, Secretary, Elementary & Secondary Education Department, KP highlighted “This project has provided opportunities for teacher of KP passionate about environment to drive local action, we in the department would like to welcome such initiatives in future as well, as climate change is impacting us everyday”

The event featured presentations on fellowship outcomes and grassroots initiatives, a policy dialogue aligning climate education with national priorities and a showcase of 50 grassroots projects, including reforestation and waste management campaigns.

A panel discussion featured esteemed panelists and senior educationists, including: Dr A.H. Nayyer – Renowned Pakistani Physicist and Scholar; Sarah Mehmood – Manager Environment and Social Safeguarding, WWF; Dr Qaisar Imran – Manager Research, National Institute of Disaster Management; Dr Farid Panjwani, Professor and Dean, AKU-IED; and Dr Riaz Hussain, Assistant Professor and Head, Professional Development Centre Chitral, AKU-IED.

The fellowship’s top 20 projects received incentives to promote scalability and sustainability. Fellows emphasized the urgent need for curriculum reforms, teacher training, and collaboration with local communities to advance climate education.

The Climate Action Fellowship 2024 is a joint initiative of AKU-IED and the U.S. Mission in Pakistan. By building capacity and fostering collaboration, it underscores the key role of education in addressing the climate crisis and bridging the gap between policy and practice.