A Stakeholder Workshop - Fostering Climate Education and Youth Entrepreneurship in Central Asia: The Path to Climate Resilience
Tuesday, December 5, 2023; 8:30 am-5:00 pm UZT // 4:30 am-1:00 pm CET // 10:30 pm (Dec. 4) -7:00 am EST
Venue: Information Resource Center, Main Library, Rectorat, National University of Uzbekistan; 100174, Universitet Street 4, Olmazor District, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Working languages: English and Russian (with simultaneous translation)
Format: Hybrid (In-person and Zoom livestream with participation)
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83139755941?pwd=R3RzZXNIMEM4eUF6dFFCY0ZKS3kzQT09
Meeting ID: 831 3975 5941
Passcode: 388798
Introduction
The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Central Asian Green University, National University of Uzbekistan, jointly with the World Bank, AnchorEd, and University of Central Asia, will hold a stakeholder workshop focused on promoting environmental and climate education in rural schools in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
This event is supported by World Bank's flagship RESILAND CA+ Central Asia Regional Landscape Restoration Program (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) that seeks to reverse land degradation and increase climate resilience in Central Asia. RESILAND CA+ is supported by CAWEP, GEF, GFDRR, KGGTF and KWPF, PACT, and PROGREEN. Additional participating academic institutions are Nazarbayev University, Naryn State University, Khorog State University, and Tajik National University. Participants include policymakers, university leadership, environment and education experts, development practitioners, university students from across Central Asia, as well as teachers and students from secondary schools in Uzbekistan.
The workshop represents the culmination of a three-year RESILAND CA+ initiative focused on fostering climate, environment, and entrepreneurship education in rural schools which form the “last mile” for strengthening climate resilience of rural communities and promoting landscape restoration and inspiring a new youth-focused response. It will bring together policy- and decision-makers, educators, researchers, development practitioners, youth, and other stakeholders from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to discuss the education-environment nexus with a goal to generate policy recommendations and implementation roadmaps that will set the stage for youth to create their own climate-resilient future.
Background
Rural areas in Central Asia are particularly vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation and face challenges in transitioning to green, resilient, regenerative, and inclusive economies. The RESILAND CA+ Program is committed to enhancing the resilience and sustainable development of Central Asia countries by addressing critical environmental, natural resource, and climate challenges. Its initiative, Rural Schools and the Development of Entrepreneurship Skills Related to Natural Resources and Climate in Central Asia, brings together policy- and decision-makers, educators, universities, and youth from across the region to pilot a model for school-based youth climate action in rural areas.
Workshop Aims
- Share results and insights gained from the RESILAND CA+ Rural Schools initiative, including youth voices and early-stage climate solutions from rural schools.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among policymakers, educators, researchers, university leadership, development practitioners, and youth interested in education innovation, youth entrepreneurship, natural resource management, and climate adaptation.
- Explore avenues for scaling up and sustaining the impact of climate-, environment- and entrepreneurship-centered education and action in rural schools across Central Asia.
Workshop Highlights
- Keynote addresses: Experts and thought leaders provide insights related to the environment-education nexus with a focus on Central Asia.
- Panel discussions: Policy- and decision-makers, educators, researchers, development practitioners, youth explore natural resource management, climate resilience, education, entrepreneurship, and the importance of rural schools in building resilient landscapes and communities in Central Asia.
- Model presentations and showcases: Faculty and student intern representatives from the National University of Uzbekistan, Nazarbayev University, Tajik National University, and University of Central Asia share their experiences implementing the Rural Schools peer-to-peer approach to entrepreneurship education, with a focus on lessons learned and impact achieved.
- Policy dialogue roundtables: Participants produce a policy recommendation statement to further education-environment-youth entrepreneurship innovation in the region.
- Implementation roadmap table work: Participants examine key challenges and opportunities to draft a roadmap for scaled implementation of the Rural Schools pilot initiative whereby rural schools are integrated with country-specific and regional environmental and climate adaptation initiatives.
AGENDA
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Time |
Agenda Item / Activity |
Presenter(s) |
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8:00-8:30 |
Arrivals and Registration |
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8:30-8:55 |
Welcome and Opening Remarks |
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|
8:55-9:05 |
Workshop Program Overview |
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|
9:05-9:15 |
Presentation: RESILAND CA+: A Regional Response to Landscape Restoration and Climate Adaptation: Building Bridges Across Environment and Education |
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|
9:15-9:40 |
Presentation: Harnessing Education for Climate Action: The Global Context for the Interactions between Climate and Education |
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9:40-10:00 |
Presentation: Rural Schools and the Development of Entrepreneurship Skills Related to Natural Resources and Climate in Central Asia: Outcomes, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps |
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10:00-10:15 |
Group Photo | Coffee Break + Gallery: Photographs + Posters from Workshops and Launchpads |
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10:15-11:00 |
Presentation and Panel Discussion: Activating Climate-Based Youth Entrepreneurship in Rural Schools Through Peer-to-Peer Learning -- Experience from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
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Panel Moderator: Ben Jarihani, External Research Scientist and Collaborator, University of Central Asia; Principal Research Officer, James Cook University Presenters and Panelists (Program Interns)
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11:00-11:40 |
Group Activity: Water Tower Experiential - Building entrepreneurial mindsets and teamwork for impactful learning and climate action |
Facilitators (Program Interns)
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11:40-12:30 |
Panel Discussion: Opportunities and Challenges in Sustaining Change at the Intersection of Education and Climate Change / Environment
● What policies or guidelines are needed to ensure that climate change and environmental education are addressed across all levels of education, from primary to tertiary? ● How can green and entrepreneurship skills and sustainable practices be implemented in education to equip students with the necessary skills for a climate-resilient future? ● How can universities collaborate with other stakeholders (ministries, civil society, private sector) to develop rural schools as community-based hubs for learning and innovation related to climate change adaptation/landscape restoration (e.g., research, teacher training, and student community engagement)? |
Panel Moderator: Victoriya Babakhodjaeva, Education Specialist, Education Global Practice, World Bank Expert Panelists
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|
12:30-13:45 |
LUNCH |
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13:45-14:15 |
Showcase: Youth Climate Action in Central Asia (YCA^2) Launchpad -- Uzbekistan school teams’ climate solutions pitch presentations |
Presenters Fergana Region
Djizakh Region
Samarkand Region
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|
14:15-15:15 |
Policy Roundtables Topics: ● Education and Climate Change/Environment (primary and secondary) ● Youth Climate Entrepreneurship, Landscape Restoration, and Education ● Higher Education/Universities and Climate Change Action ● Rural Schools as Community Hubs for Climate Adaptation and Landscape Restoration ● School Infrastructure and Climate Adaptation ● Food Security, health, schools, and climate change
Virtual/Zoom Discussions (via Break-Out Rooms) |
Moderators:
Facilitators:
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|
15:15-15:30 |
Coffee Break | Gallery: Photographs + Posters from Workshops and Launchpads |
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|
15:30-16:00 |
Table Share-Outs |
Moderator: Serge Piabuo Mandiefe, Environmental Economist Consultant, Environment, Natural Resources, and Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practice, World Bank |
|
16:00-16:40 |
Key Take-Aways and Action Steps: From Policy Recommendations to Regional Action: Setting the Path for Climate Resilience through Education
Virtual/Zoom Discussions (via Break-Out Rooms) |
Discussant/Moderator
Session Moderator (Zoom)
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16:40-17:00 |
Closing Remarks
Presentation of Certificates |
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