CO-CREATE
Advancing Climate Education in Tanzania
USAID and FCDO partner with Creative Action Institute to advance climate education in Tanzania
October 25, 2024 • By Creative Action Institute
At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), USAID and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) launched CO-CREATE (Collaborative Opportunities for Climate Resilience, Empowerment, and Transformation through Education), a groundbreaking initiative to advance climate action, education, and gender equality in Tanzania. Led by the Aga Khan Foundation, with support from Creative Action Institute, Restless Development and Belmont University, CO-CREATE aims to integrate climate and gender-focused lessons into Tanzania’s education system, with the goal to create scalable models that enhance educational outcomes nationwide.​
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CO-CREATE is the first program funded by the Climate Action Partnership for Education (CAPE), a joint fund established by the USAID and FCDO to address climate change through education, particularly by investing in girls' education. This initiative builds on research conducted by the FCDO showing that empowering girls through education not only promotes gender equality, but is also an important strategy in addressing climate change.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
“The evidence shows that girls’ secondary education is the most important socio-economic determinant in reducing vulnerability to climate change in communities."
– Judith Herbertson, Head of Girls’ Education, FCDO
Over the course of two years, CO-CREATE will develop and test new solutions for incorporating climate action into Tanzanian schools, focusing on fostering inclusive learning environments for girls. Implemented through the Aga Khan Foundation’s Schools2030 program—a global 10-year initiative focused on improving learning outcomes for marginalized children—CO-CREATE will develop and implement climate- and gender-oriented curricula across 90 schools and 12 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Tanzania. Through an ongoing process of testing and evaluation, partners will identify the most effective ways to integrate climate change and gender equality into Tanzania's educational system. The project aims to create a scalable education model while generating insights on how to use climate action solutions in schools to enhance gender inclusivity and ultimately improve educational quality and youth development for all students.​
Creative Action Institute plays a key role in CO-CREATE by developing climate- and gender-inclusive curricula tailored to the cultural and regional contexts of the communities we serve. As experts in content development, we design educational materials and lead workshops that equip participants with essential climate knowledge while encouraging innovative thinking about the intersection of climate, gender, and local culture. Our approach empowers educators and learners to address these pressing issues in a way that is both practical and transformative.​​
Creative Action Institute attended the CO-CREATE panel at the Schools2030 Global Forum in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where discussions took place regarding how this initiative will engage schools and communities to test and scale climate-resilient learning solutions and system pathways in Tanzania.
CO-CREATE is from the American people through USAID, and UK International Development from the UK Government.
