FAO CHAMPIONS CLIMATE LEADERSHIP WITH POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER FACE-NDC INITIATIVE

Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 15th May, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.

In a bold move to cultivate a new generation of climate change leaders, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its consortium of partners have awarded postgraduate scholarships under the Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to Achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) project.

This initiative is not just an academic investment, but a strategic intervention aimed at equipping scholars with the skills and knowledge needed to drive Zambia’s climate resilience and sustainable development agenda. The project brings together key players including the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University, UNESCO, UNITAR and Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI), reflecting an integrated approach to climate action through education, research and policy innovation.

Officiating the awards ceremony, Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Hon. Mike Mposha, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Douty Chibamba, emphasized the critical role of human capital development in achieving Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and broader green growth targets.

“As Zambia accelerates its transition towards renewable energy and sustainable development pathways, the role of homegrown experts becomes even more vital,” Dr. Chibamba stated. “These scholarships are more than academic pursuits they are pathways to actionable solutions. We urge the recipients to pursue rigorous research, deliver unfiltered findings and be ambassadors of hope for our nation.”

FAO Country Representative, Suze Percy Fillipini, reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting Zambia’s climate objectives, noting that the organization remains steadfast in strengthening capacities across the country’s priority NDC mitigation sectors: agriculture, renewable energy and forestry.

The FACE-NDC project stands as a model of collaborative climate empowerment, aligning local actions with global ambitions for a sustainable, low-carbon future. It underscores the recognition that transformative climate action must be anchored in education, behavioral change, and innovation.

The ceremony brought together senior officials from the Ministries of Education, Agriculture and the University of Zambia, marking a shared commitment to nurturing climate leadership as a cornerstone of Zambia’s sustainable development agenda.

The Agency.