Fourteen of the 25 countries most vulnerable to environmental degradation and climate change are experiencing active conflicts.
Political and economic pressures frequently force marginalized communities and local actors to put natural resource protection aside. Evidence suggests that this dynamic can be reversed more effectively when civil society plays an active role alongside governments and the private sector.
Decisions around land use and natural resources historically have been driven by short-sighted financial returns instead of long-term community benefit. Empowered communities can protect and benefit from their local ecosystems by addressing the drivers of environmental degradation and conserving the natural resources most critical to sustainable livelihoods and environmental health.
Building awareness of climate change and its impact on communities is critical to addressing the drivers of unsustainability and empowering youth and communities to become actors in combating climate change.
Solutions are best devised by those who live with the problem. FHI 360 civil society and education programming supports locally led solutions to the climate crisis. Working in partnership with civil society and local governments, FHI 360 builds community capacity to adapt to climate shocks through education, participatory governance, inclusive dialogue, sustainable natural resource management, conflict mitigation and climate awareness.
FHI 360 builds the capacity of communities to manage their resources for the benefit of all. Areas of focus include:
- Equipping civil society, communities and youth to advocate for community-driven, inclusive solutions to climate risks and local climate decisions and investments.
- Preparing youth to be climate leaders and advocates for innovative and equitable solutions to climate change challenges by integrating climate education into formal curricula and youth job training.
- Helping communities manage their natural resources to drive inclusive economic opportunities in green sectors — protecting water and food sources and preserving natural heritage.
- Building governance capacity to manage disaster preparedness and response systems.
- Leveraging existing community expertise in peacebuilding and conflict mitigation to identify and implement local solutions to climate- and natural resource-related conflict.