This partnership focused on wastewater management and sanitation services, looking at how wastewater can be sustainably transitioned to clean water and compost. The partnership brought together multiple stakeholders, each playing a key role in addressing Harare’s environmental challenges. Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) contributed scientific expertise, developed training materials, and facilitated workshops on innovative solutions such as biomonitoring and vermicomposting. Harare City Council and Chinhoyi Municipality coordinated community engagement, ensured alignment with local policies, and participated in training initiatives.

The collaboration yielded significant results in advancing environmental sustainability. Municipal staff and students gained hands-on experience in waste management and pollution monitoring, while local capacity was strengthened through low-cost biomonitoring training.

This video includes testimonials from the following project participants:

• Tatenda Matewa, Chinhoyi University of Technology
• Chipo Dekesa, Chinhoyi University of Technology
• Tapiwa Whingwiri, Zim Earthwarm Farms
• Mike Kambeni, Chinhoyi University of Technology
• Professor Tongai Mwedzi, Chinhoyi University of Technology
• Elpha Machaba, Chinhoyi Municipality

Interested in learning more about this project? Read the full project story here.

View the video below:

From February to June 2025, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) commissioned an outcome assessment to examine the extent to which adaptation outcomes have been achieved through its support of �鶹��Ƶ, with a specific focus on UNEP-supported �鶹��Ƶ initiatives across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The methodology combined qualitative and quantitative data collection across multiple levels. In total, over 100 stakeholders were consulted during three regional visits in four countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, and South Africa), as well as interviews with �鶹��Ƶ leadership, regional coordinators, students, faculty, and local government representatives; some of these were through focus group discussions (FGDs) while others were through group or individual interviews. A stakeholder survey was also administered to city–university pairs, and relevant documentation, including project reports, training materials, and strategic guidance, was reviewed. The assessment additionally compiled and analysed a provisional database of UNEP-supported �鶹��Ƶ projects in the three regions to classify their adaptation relevance and implementation status.

The assessment is structured around five overarching questions agreed in consultations with UNEP:

1. What key adaptation outcomes have resulted from �鶹��Ƶ implementation?
2. How has the �鶹��Ƶ Model strengthened adaptation knowledge and capacity among municipalities, universities, and students?
3. What financial mechanisms and strategies are required to ensure �鶹��Ƶ’s long-term sustainability for adaptation?
4. What best practices and lessons have emerged from UNEP’s support to �鶹��Ƶ? How could these be replicated or scaled up?
5. How can UNEP enhance its support to expand the �鶹��Ƶ model for broader adaptation impact?

This report is intended to support UNEP’s internal reflection and strategic decision-making regarding future engagement with the �鶹��Ƶ Model. Read or download the full report below.

In a Mapuche neighborhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, artisans are trading traditional adobe bricks for experimental eco-friendly alternatives. In a canyon that straddles the U.S.–Mexico border, families are planting vegetation to stem polluted runoff. And in Panama’s Parita Bay, grassroots leaders are defending wetlands that shelter thousands of migratory shorebirds.

These are just three of five community-driven projects launched this week across Latin America under a new initiative to accelerate ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in cities. The program, led by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Transdisciplinary Academy and the �鶹��Ƶ Network, seeks to show how unusual partnerships between universities and communities can drive climate resilience in the Global South.

Funded through the Global EbA Fund —financed by International Climate Initiative (IKI) of theGerman Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) and co-managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and partners— the projects aim to support  for its mainstreaming and scaling up.

“Urban communities in Latin America are often on the frontline of climate risks, but rarely in the driver’s seat of adaptation,” said Kim Portmess, STeP Program Lead at the IAI. “This initiative flips that dynamic by giving communities the tools, knowledge, and partnerships to shape their own futures.”

Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Argentina

In Campo La Cruz, a Mapuche community in Junín, adobe brickmaking has been central to both livelihoods and cultural identity. But the practice contributes to deforestation and land degradation. Through the project CheCiencia, community members are working with researchers from the National University of the Northwest of the Province of Buenos Aires to co-design solutions: ecological bricks made from recycled plastics, remediation of degraded areas, and assessments of urban climate risks.

“We want to keep our traditions alive, but also protect the land that sustains us,” said a community leader.

Food Security and Education in Colombia

In the hills outside Medellín, the SERES Project is transforming schools into climate hubs. Children tend urban gardens while families restore nearby forests, learning about rainwater harvesting, composting, and water conservation. The goal is not just environmental recovery but building resilience into everyday life.

Cross-Border Challenges in Mexico

In Tijuana’s Los Laureles Canyon, where untreated wastewater and garbage wash into Mexico’s protected estuaries, residents are confronting both local and binational crises. A new initiative led by Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana and Costa Salvaje A.C. combines phytoremediation, clean-ups, and environmental and public health education with legal advocacy for the constitutional right to a healthy environment.

Meanwhile, further inland, a second Mexican project is targeting one of the world’s dirtiest industries: construction. By recycling demolition waste and scrap glass, researchers and builders in Baja California are testing greener materials to reduce emissions, protect aquifers, and restore damaged ecosystems.

Wetlands Under Pressure in Panama

Panama’s Parita Bay is one of the country’s most important sites for migratory birds, yet it faces intense pressure from Chitré’s rapid urban growth. Here, communities are documenting traditional fishing and tourism practices while demanding a voice in land-use planning. The coalition hopes to safeguard mangroves and salt marshes that provide food, flood protection, and “blue carbon” storage.

A Model for the Global South

Taken together, the five projects represent a shift in how climate adaptation is being approached in Latin America: not as imported solutions, but as collaborative experiments that weave together academic teaching with local knowledge.

Climate experts say this approach is gaining urgency as cities in the Global South grow faster than anywhere else. The Global EbA Fund noted that, if these unconventional collaborations succeed, they could serve as a template for other urban areas facing the twin pressures of climate change and inequality.

More details and photos of the project are available here

Desde Argentina hasta �ʲ��Բ���á, comunidades y universidades unen fuerzas para replantearse la adaptación climática urbana

En un barrio mapuche a las afueras de Buenos Aires, los artesanos están sustituyendo los ladrillos de adobe tradicionales por alternativas ecológicas experimentales. En un cañón que se extiende a ambos lados de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y ��é�澱����, las familias están plantando vegetación para frenar la escorrentía contaminada. Y en la bahía de Parita, en �ʲ��Բ���á, los líderes comunitarios están defendiendo los humedales que albergan a miles de aves migratorias costeras.

Estos son solo tres de los cinco proyectos impulsados por la comunidad que se han puesto en marcha esta semana en toda América Latina en el marco de una nueva iniciativa para acelerar la adaptación basada en los ecosistemas (EbA) en las ciudades. El programa, dirigido por la Academia Transdisciplinaria del Instituto Interamericano para la Investigación del Cambio Global (IAI) y la Red �鶹��Ƶ, pretende mostrar cómo las alianzas inusuales entre universidades y comunidades pueden impulsar la resiliencia climática en el Sur Global.

Financiados a través del Fondo Global EbA —financiado por la Iniciativa Internacional sobre el Clima (IKI) del Ministerio Federal Alemán de Medio Ambiente, Acción Climática, Conservación de la Naturaleza y Seguridad Nuclear (BMUKN) y cogestionado por la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) y sus socios—, los proyectos tienen como objetivo apoyar  para su integración y ampliación.

«Las comunidades urbanas de América Latina suelen estar en primera línea de los riesgos climáticos, pero rara vez llevan las riendas de la adaptación», afirma Kim Portmess, directora del programa STeP del IAI. «Esta iniciativa invierte esa dinámica al proporcionar a las comunidades las herramientas, los conocimientos y las alianzas necesarios para forjar su propio futuro».

Equilibrio entre tradición e innovación en Argentina

En Campo La Cruz, una comunidad mapuche de Junín, la fabricación de ladrillos de adobe ha sido fundamental tanto para los medios de vida como para la identidad cultural. Sin embargo, esta práctica contribuye a la deforestación y la degradación de la tierra. A través del proyecto CheCiencia, los miembros de la comunidad están trabajando con investigadores de la Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires para diseñar conjuntamente soluciones: ladrillos ecológicos fabricados con plásticos reciclados, remediación de áreas degradadas y evaluaciones de los riesgos climáticos urbanos.

«Queremos mantener vivas nuestras tradiciones, pero también proteger la tierra que nos sustenta», afirmó un líder comunitario.

Seguridad alimentaria y educación en Colombia

En las colinas de las afueras de Medellín, el proyecto SERES está transformando las escuelas en centros climáticos. Los niños cuidan huertos urbanos mientras las familias restauran los bosques cercanos, aprendiendo sobre la recolección de agua de lluvia, el compostaje y la conservación del agua. El objetivo no es solo la recuperación medioambiental, sino también fomentar la resiliencia en la vida cotidiana.

Desafíos transfronterizos en ��é�澱����

En el cañón Los Laureles de Tijuana, donde las aguas residuales sin tratar y la basura llegan a los estuarios protegidos de ��é�澱����, los residentes se enfrentan a crisis tanto locales como binacionales. Una nueva iniciativa liderada por la Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana y Costa Salvaje A.C. combina la fitorremediación, la limpieza y la educación ambiental y de salud pública con la defensa legal del derecho constitucional a un medio ambiente saludable.

Mientras tanto, más hacia el interior, un segundo proyecto mexicano se centra en una de las industrias más contaminantes del mundo: la construcción. Mediante el reciclaje de residuos de demolición y vidrio, investigadores y constructores de Baja California están probando materiales más ecológicos para reducir las emisiones, proteger los acuíferos y restaurar los ecosistemas dañados.

Humedales bajo presión en �ʲ��Բ���á

La bahía de Parita, en �ʲ��Բ���á, es uno de los sitios más importantes del país para las aves migratorias, pero se enfrenta a una intensa presión debido al rápido crecimiento urbano de Chitré. Aquí, las comunidades están documentando las prácticas tradicionales de pesca y turismo, al tiempo que exigen tener voz en la planificación del uso del suelo. La coalición espera salvaguardar los manglares y las marismas salinas que proporcionan alimento, protección contra las inundaciones y almacenamiento de «carbono azul».

Un modelo para el Sur Global

En conjunto, los cinco proyectos representan un cambio en la forma de abordar la adaptación al clima en América Latina: no como soluciones importadas, sino como experimentos colaborativos que entrelazan la enseñanza académica con el conocimiento local.

Los expertos en clima afirman que este enfoque cobra cada vez más urgencia, ya que las ciudades del Sur Global crecen más rápido que en cualquier otro lugar. El Fondo Global EbA señaló que, si estas colaboraciones poco convencionales tienen éxito, podrían servir de modelo para otras zonas urbanas que se enfrentan a la doble presión del cambio climático y la desigualdad.

Más detalles y fotos del proyecto están disponibles �����í

The IAI Transdisciplinary Academy, in collaboration with the �鶹��Ƶ Network, is pleased to announce the funding of five projects under the program “Catalyzing Unconventional Collaborations in the Global South for Urban Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA).”

The initiative applies a transdisciplinary approach and the �鶹��Ƶ Model (University–Community Partnerships) to address key barriers to implementing EbA in the region, including gaps in financing, governance, and knowledge. By fostering co-creation between communities and universities, the program supports more inclusive urban planning and strengthens sustainable financing mechanisms for climate adaptation.

This program is funded by the Global EbA Fund, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) of Germany, and co-managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its partners.

Following a competitive selection process, the following projects have been funded:

Argentina

Project Title: “CheCiencia”: Sustainable management of natural environments by a Mapuche community in the city of Junín, Buenos Aires: environmental impacts and risks posed by climate change

Description: The Mapuche community of Campo La Cruz, on the outskirts of Junín, Argentina, has long sustained itself through traditional adobe brickmaking—a practice central to its cultural identity but also one with significant environmental impacts.

Through a transdisciplinary approach, this project seeks to co-design ecosystem-based adaptation strategies that respect community traditions while building resilience to climate change. Key actions include:

• Assessing climate-related environmental risks in Junín’s urban and peri-urban ecosystems.
  
• Remediating degraded areas.
  
• Supporting a transition from adobe bricks toward ecological alternatives, such as bricks made from recycled plastics.
  

These initiatives aim to reduce social and environmental vulnerability, strengthen flood protection and food security, and foster sustainable livelihoods, while revaluing the community’s cultural heritage and enhancing biodiversity.

Program Partners: Mapuche Community Campo La Cruz, Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina, National University of the Northwest of the Province of Buenos Aires (UNNOBA), UBATEC, Higher Institute of Teacher Training N°129

Colombia

Project Title: SERES Project: Sustainability and Ecology for the Restoration of Social Ecosystems

Description:The SERES Project works to promote sustainable agricultural practices and ecological restoration, while raising awareness of climate change in Pueblo Viejo and surrounding communities. By engaging schools and local residents, the initiative empowers communities to adopt cleaner, more resilient ways of living.  Key goals include:

• Strengthen food security through small-scale urban gardens and inclusive practices.
  
• Advance ecological restoration of nearby forests.
  
• Promote environmental education on water conservation, rainwater harvesting, composting, and sustainable urban gardening.

 Program Partners: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Alcaldía de La Estrella, ICLEI – Gobiernos Locales por la Sostenibilidad (Colombia)

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Project Title: Los Laureles Canyon: Building Community Resilience and Restoring Biodiversity

Description: Los Laureles Canyon, part of the Tijuana River watershed, flows from Mexico into the Tijuana River estuary, a protected wetland in California. This unique ecosystem supports rich biodiversity but faces threats from vegetation loss, pollution, sedimentation, and high bacterial contamination.

The families living in the canyon are highly vulnerable to climate change. Floods, landslides, fires, and vector-borne diseases are increasing due to rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and trash accumulation. Contaminated runoff also affects cross-border waters, creating binational challenges.

This project seeks to strengthen community resilience, reduce vulnerability, and restore biodiversity through four main actions:

• Monitoring water quality and mitigating wastewater pollution using phytoremediation.
  
• Controlling soil erosion, cleaning up illegal dumps, and revegetating green areas.
  
• Promoting environmental education and community stewardship.
  
• Exploring legal pathways to secure the Right to a Healthy Environment.

Program Partners: Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, Costa Salvaje A.C., Comunidad de Rancho Las Flores

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Project Title: Ecosystem-based adaptation of the Tijuana River basin, focusing on the recycling of construction waste and glass.

Description:  The construction industry accounts for 40% of global energy use and 34% of greenhouse gas emissions. In northwestern Baja California, over 20 years of stone extraction, improper disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW), and scrap glass have damaged soil, wildlife, and ecosystems, reducing aquifer recharge and increasing fire risk.

This project addresses these impacts by designing a collaborative model for comprehensive CDW and glass management. It includes four stages: diagnosing affected ecosystem services and identifying restoration sites along Las Palmas stream; developing ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategies for climate resilience; evaluating sustainable construction materials; and implementing EbA measures to conserve natural resources.

Teachers, students, civil society organizations, the local construction chamber, and a major cement producer collaborate to recycle CDW and glass as alternatives to natural aggregates. This supports biodiversity, aquifer recharge, flood risk reduction, and crop pollination, while protecting the ecosystem services of Las Palmas and surrounding areas.

Program Partners: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Proyecto Fronterizo de Educación Ambiental, Cámara Mexicana de la Industria de la Construcción, Empresa de Cemento CEMEX

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Project Title: Land Use Planning and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation of Wetlands in the City of Chitré, Parita Bay, Panama.

Description: For the past five years, a coalition of individuals and institutions has advanced collaborative research on biodiversity and wetland conservation in Parita Bay, Panama, using a transdisciplinary approach to urban planning and ecosystem-based adaptation. These wetlands are the country’s second most important site for migratory shorebirds and provide essential ecosystem services for Chitré, the region’s largest and fastest-growing city.

Coastal communities—among the most vulnerable—depend on mangroves, sloughs, and salt marshes for fishing, mollusk harvesting, and tourism, but recognize that rapid urban growth threatens both ecosystems and cultural traditions. Grassroots leaders have joined the Parita Bay Conservation Program to preserve knowledge, create new opportunities for youth and women, and safeguard wetlands that provide fisheries, storm protection, and blue carbon. The main activities of this project include:

• Document traditional practices in coastal and marine use.
  
• Strengthen responsible fishing and tourism with universities and civil society.
  
• Empower communities to participate in Chitré’s land use planning.

Program Partners: CATHALAC, CREHO, ACD, Summa Architects, USMA-McGill Urban Forum and Observatory, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Coastal Solutions Program, Municipality of Chitré, ANUMA

Catalizando colaboraciones no convencionales en el Sur Global para la adaptación basada en ecosistemas urbanos (EbA)

La Academia Transdisciplinaria del IAI, en colaboración con la Red �鶹��Ƶ, se complace en anunciar la financiación de cinco proyectos en el marco del programa «Catalizar colaboraciones no convencionales en el Sur Global para la adaptación basada en los ecosistemas urbanos (EbA)».

La iniciativa aplica un enfoque transdisciplinario y el modelo �鶹��Ƶ (asociaciones entre universidades y comunidades) para abordar los principales obstáculos que dificultan la implementación de la EbA en la región, entre ellos las deficiencias en materia de financiación, gobernanza y conocimientos. Al fomentar la cocreación entre las comunidades y las universidades, el programa apoya una planificación urbana más inclusiva y refuerza los mecanismos de financiación sostenible para la adaptación al clima.

Este programa está financiado por el Fondo Global EbA, con el apoyo de la Iniciativa Internacional sobre el Clima (IKI) del Ministerio Federal de Medio Ambiente, Conservación de la Naturaleza, Seguridad Nuclear y Protección del Consumidor (BMUV) de Alemania, y coadministrado por la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) y sus socios.

Tras un proceso de selección competitivo, se han financiado los siguientes proyectos:

Argentina

Título del proyecto: “CheCiencia”: Gestión sostenible de los entornos naturales por parte de una comunidad mapuche en la ciudad de Junín, Buenos Aires: impactos ambientales y riesgos que plantea el cambio climático.

�ٱ���������賦��ó��: La comunidad mapuche de Campo La Cruz, en las afueras de Junín (Argentina), se ha sustentado durante mucho tiempo gracias a la fabricación tradicional de ladrillos de adobe, una práctica fundamental para su identidad cultural, pero que también tiene importantes repercusiones ambientales.

Mediante un enfoque transdisciplinario, este proyecto busca diseñar conjuntamente estrategias de adaptación basadas en los ecosistemas que respeten las tradiciones de la comunidad y, al mismo tiempo, fomenten la resiliencia al cambio climático. Las acciones clave incluyen:

• Evaluar los riesgos medioambientales relacionados con el clima en los ecosistemas urbanos y periurbanos de Junín.
• Remediar las zonas degradadas.
• Apoyar la transición de los ladrillos de adobe a alternativas ecológicas, como los ladrillos fabricados con plásticos reciclados.

Estas iniciativas tienen como objetivo reducir la vulnerabilidad social y ambiental, fortalecer la protección contra las inundaciones y la seguridad alimentaria, y fomentar medios de vida sostenibles, al tiempo que se revaloriza el patrimonio cultural de la comunidad y se mejora la biodiversidad.

Socios del programa: Comunidad Mapuche Campo La Cruz, Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNNOBA), UBATEC, Instituto Superior de Formación Docente N.º 129

– – – – – 

Colombia

Título del proyecto: Proyecto SERES: Sostenibilidad y ecología para la restauración de los ecosistemas sociales

�ٱ���������賦��ó��: El proyecto SERES trabaja para promover prácticas agrícolas sostenibles y la restauración ecológica, al tiempo que sensibiliza sobre el cambio climático en Pueblo Viejo y las comunidades circundantes. Al involucrar a las escuelas y a los residentes locales, la iniciativa empodera a las comunidades para que adopten formas de vida más limpias y resilientes. Los objetivos clave incluyen:

• Fortalecer la seguridad alimentaria mediante huertas urbanas a pequeña escala y prácticas inclusivas.
• Avanzar en la restauración ecológica de los bosques cercanos.
• Promover la educación ambiental sobre la conservación del agua, la recolección de agua de lluvia, el compostaje y la jardinería urbana sostenible.

Socios del programa: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Alcaldía de La Estrella, ICLEI – Gobiernos Locales por la Sostenibilidad (Colombia)

– – – – – 

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Título del proyecto: Cañón Los Laureles: Fomento de la resiliencia comunitaria y restauración de la biodiversidad

�ٱ���������賦��ó��: El cañón Los Laureles, que forma parte de la cuenca del río Tijuana, fluye desde ��é�澱���� hasta el estuario del río Tijuana, un humedal protegido en California. Este ecosistema único alberga una rica biodiversidad, pero se enfrenta a amenazas como la pérdida de vegetación, la contaminación, la sedimentación y la alta contaminación bacteriana.

Las familias que viven en el cañón son muy vulnerables al cambio climático. Las inundaciones, los deslizamientos de tierra, los incendios y las enfermedades transmitidas por vectores están aumentando debido al aumento de las temperaturas, la pérdida de biodiversidad, la contaminación del agua y la acumulación de basura. La escorrentía contaminada también afecta a las aguas transfronterizas, lo que plantea retos binacionales.

Este proyecto busca fortalecer la resiliencia de la comunidad, reducir la vulnerabilidad y restaurar la biodiversidad a través de cuatro acciones principales:

• Monitorear la calidad del agua y mitigar la contaminación de las aguas residuales mediante la fitorremediación.
• Controlar la erosión del suelo, limpiar los vertederos ilegales y revegetar las áreas verdes.
• Promover la educación ambiental y la gestión comunitaria.
• Explorar vías legales para garantizar el derecho a un medio ambiente saludable.

Socios del programa: Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, Costa Salvaje A.C., Comunidad de Rancho Las Flores

– – – – – 

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Título del proyecto: Adaptación basada en los ecosistemas de la cuenca del río Tijuana, centrada en el reciclaje de residuos de construcción y vidrio.

�ٱ���������賦��ó��:  La industria de la construcción representa el 40 % del consumo mundial de energía y el 34 % de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. En el noroeste de Baja California, más de 20 años de extracción de piedra, eliminación inadecuada de residuos de construcción y demolición (RCD) y vidrio de desecho han dañado el suelo, la vida silvestre y los ecosistemas, reduciendo la recarga de los acuíferos y aumentando el riesgo de incendios.

Este proyecto aborda estos impactos mediante el diseño de un modelo colaborativo para la gestión integral de los RCD y el vidrio. Incluye cuatro etapas: diagnosticar los servicios ecosistémicos afectados e identificar los sitios de restauración a lo largo del arroyo Las Palmas; desarrollar estrategias de adaptación basada en los ecosistemas (EbA) para la resiliencia climática; evaluar materiales de construcción sostenibles; e implementar medidas de EbA para conservar los recursos naturales.

Profesores, estudiantes, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, la cámara local de la construcción y un importante productor de cemento colaboran para reciclar los RCD y el vidrio como alternativas a los áridos naturales. Esto favorece la biodiversidad, la recarga de los acuíferos, la reducción del riesgo de inundaciones y la polinización de los cultivos, al tiempo que protege los servicios ecosistémicos de Las Palmas y sus alrededores.

Socios del programa: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Proyecto Fronterizo de Educación Ambiental, Cámara Mexicana de la Industria de la Construcción, Empresa de Cemento CEMEX

– – – – – 

�ʲ��Բ���á

Título del proyecto: Planificación del uso del suelo y adaptación basada en los ecosistemas de los humedales de la ciudad de Chitré, bahía de Parita, �ʲ��Բ���á.

�ٱ���������賦��ó��: Durante los últimos cinco años, una coalición de personas e instituciones ha impulsado la investigación colaborativa sobre la biodiversidad y la conservación de los humedales en la bahía de Parita, �ʲ��Բ���á, utilizando un enfoque transdisciplinario de la planificación urbana y la adaptación basada en los ecosistemas. Estos humedales son el segundo sitio más importante del país para las aves migratorias costeras y proporcionan servicios ecosistémicos esenciales para Chitré, la ciudad más grande y de más rápido crecimiento de la región.

Las comunidades costeras, que se encuentran entre las más vulnerables, dependen de los manglares, los pantanos y las marismas salinas para la pesca, la recolección de moluscos y el turismo, pero reconocen que el rápido crecimiento urbano amenaza tanto los ecosistemas como las tradiciones culturales. Los líderes de base se han unido al Programa de Conservación de la Bahía de Parita para preservar los conocimientos, crear nuevas oportunidades para los jóvenes y las mujeres y salvaguardar los humedales que proporcionan pesca, protección contra las tormentas y carbono azul. Las principales actividades de este proyecto incluyen:

• Documentar las prácticas tradicionales en el uso costero y marino.
• Fortalecer la pesca y el turismo responsables con las universidades y la sociedad civil.
• Empoderar a las comunidades para que participen en la planificación del uso del suelo de Chitré.

Socios del programa: CATHALAC, CREHO, ACD, Summa Architects, USMA-McGill Urban Forum and Observatory, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Coastal Solutions Program, Municipio de Chitré, ANUMA

 We’re excited to announce the release of a new compendium by the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities-Network (�鶹��Ƶ), in collaboration with LatinoAmerica 21, titled: From Need to Opportunities: Fostering Connections and Knowledge Between Academia and Communities.

This publication highlights how the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities-Network (�鶹��Ƶ) is building transformative connections between academia and communities across Latin America and the Caribbean. The compendium includes compelling case studies from programs around Latin America, including:

• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
• Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
• Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico
• Universidad de Colima, Mexico
• Pontificia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil
• University of Guadalajara, Mexico
• Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Ecuador
• Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Colombia
• University of Chile
• Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico

The publication is now available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Explore the publications today and get inspired by real-world examples of academic-community partnerships driving transformational change.

The 2025 �鶹��Ƶ Conference, held in partnership with the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress, took place in Chicago, Illinois from June 16th to the 19th.  We’re thrilled to share that the event was a tremendous success- filled with energy, insight, and momentum for the future of sustainability and community engagement.

Over four days, attendees from across the globe came together for thought-provoking conversations, inspiring presentations, and meaningful connections that are already sparking new collaborations across the �鶹��Ƶ.

Conference highlights included:
– Thought-provoking �鶹��Ƶ discussions shaping the future of our network
– Powerful sustainability conversations driving change in the community engagement space
– Meaningful networking opportunities fostering collaboration and innovation
– Engaging member presentations showcasing groundbreaking work

�鶹��Ƶ staff and member programs presented upwards of 20 sessions throughout the entire conference. Topics ranged from communicating stories of impact, to rural transportation equity, to transdisciplinary frameworks for community alliances. We were delighted to have �鶹��Ƶ members from around the world join us in-person for this conference, including a strong contingent from Latin America whose presence brought global perspective and valuable insights to the event.

�鶹��Ƶ staff, members, partners, and friends took this opportunity to connect, share resources, stories, and best practices. We look forward to continuing the conversations started at the conference, and will be following up with the 25+ new contacts interested in joining the network.

A huge thank you to all speakers, participants, and partners who made this event possible. Together, we’re building a more sustainable and connected future!

Please see the award winners below:

Partnership of the Year

University of the Philippines Los Baños and the City of Calamba

The University of the Philippines Los Baños partnered with the City of Calamba to address the urgent and interrelated challenges faced by the ten lakeshore barangays of Calamba City, Laguna, brought about by its high vulnerability to prolonged and frequent flooding due to their proximity to Laguna Lake.

The students not only identified key areas for improvement but also facilitated the creation of a unified disaster risk reduction and management framework that incorporated various sectors, such as agriculture and environmental protection.

Durban �鶹��Ƶ Program and the City of Durban, South Africa

The partnership between the Durban �鶹��Ƶ Program at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the city of Durban sought to address a significant lack of trust in the city government on the part of local communities in need of assistance. �鶹��Ƶ program leads within the city and within the university found that over time, students were able to relieve tensions within the communities and help build trust. They also opened up lines of communication between the city, the university and the affected communities. This greatly facilitated the ultimate success of the on-going work addressing the core challenges faced by the communities. These challenges included frequent devastating flood events that resulted in loss of lives, loss of services, loss of land and critical habitat, and destruction of dwellings.

Livable City Year and the Pacific County Economic Development Council

The University of Washington’s Livable City Year program is completing its third year in a successful partnership with the Pacific County Economic Development Council. During the past three academic years, LCY has completed 16 projects in partnership with PCEDC, roughly half of the projects related to housing and half related to economic development. Cumulatively, the partnership has given the county data and qualitative measures; case studies of comparable communities; financial analyses, reports and infographics to communicate with community stakeholders; and recommendations for next steps.

Faculty of the Year

Dr. Andrea Hicks, Professor & Director of Sustainability Education and Research

Since 2017, Andrea has collaborated with seven Wisconsin communities through UniverCity Alliance. Andrea understands that sustainability is interdisciplinary and grounded in real-world challenges. Because of this, she chooses to teach her courses by embedding community-based projects because it provides the best learning experience for students. Incorporating her expertise in areas of life cycle analysis and industrial ecology into a community-based learning model allows students to reflect on the social justice aspects of sustainability. All of these scholarly pursuits were included in her tenure portfolio. She was successfully tenured by her department, which makes her one of the first faculty members in the College of Engineering to use community engagement in her tenure case. Andrea also received the UW–Madison Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Community-Based Learning Teaching in 2020.

Dr.  Fabiola S. Sosa Rodriguez, Professor

The UAM-�鶹��Ƶ La Piedad Lagoon Rescue project, spearheaded by Dr. Fabiola Sosa Rodríguez, has been making significant strides at the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM-�鶹��Ƶ) since its launch in January 2023. Dr. Sosa’s exceptional work on the UAM-�鶹��Ƶ project, aimed at rescuing La Piedad Lagoon, is notable for her innovative approach. She transcended traditional teaching and research frameworks by actively involving the community in tangible and measurable socio-environmental transformation processes. In just two years, Dr. Sosa has mobilized over 700 students trained in water restoration topics from 15 courses across nine undergraduate and three graduate programs. Additionally, 15 professors from three different campuses and disciplines, alongside more than 15 research assistants and community service students, have participated in the project.

Student of the Year

Sudarat Jutimusik, Thammasat University

Sudarat has consistently gone beyond expectations in her involvement with the �鶹��Ƶ program. In addition to her coursework, she has supported the lecturer, the �鶹��Ƶ Asia Coordinator, and other faculty members in reaching out to partner programs and expanding engagement with the network. She has represented the program in two �鶹��Ƶ conferences and also participated in the Gobeshona Global Conference in 2024, where she contributed to international discussions on climate change and community engagement. She is often the first to volunteer for School events, highlighting the work of courses adopting the �鶹��Ƶ model and  helping raise visibility and understanding of community-engaged learning. In January 2025, Sudarat contributed to the �鶹��Ƶ workshop held in Bangkok, where she represented the voice of students during discussions with lecturers, local officials, and international participants.

Addison Cipowski, Indiana University Bloomington

Addison consistently went above and beyond by balancing a full academic course load while dedicating significant time and effort to the Sustaining Hoosier Communities project. Despite the demands of her coursework, she proactively schedule and conducted interviews, organized community visits, and meticulously developed both the practice brief and community presentation demonstrating exceptional time management and commitment to the project’s success. What truly set her apart was her ability to connect her academic and career goals with meaningful community impact. Recognizing broader systemic challenges during her work such as the role of broadband access in telehealth delivery she independently initiated and led a new project with KSB Impact students to conduct a broadband and technology assessment in another rural community.

During the �鶹��Ƶ-Africa Learning Event at the University of Pretoria in February 2025, �鶹��Ƶ facilitated a number of interviews with our members to highlight their experience implementing the �鶹��Ƶ Model, along with their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. You can read the the previous interviews . Our fifth interview is with Xolani Dhlamini, Masters Student at UKZN. Read Xolani’s interview below:

Xolani Dhlamini, Masters Student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

Intro: My name is Xolani Dhlamini. I’m from Newcastle, and I’m doing my master’s in Development Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), which is located in Durban.

This is my first involvement with �鶹��Ƶ. I haven’t even been with them for a month. Personally, I love collaborating with �鶹��Ƶ because of their values. They love to collaborate with others, respect the values of other entities, and don’t force their own values on others. Instead, they try to find common ground. That’s why I want to be involved with �鶹��Ƶ.

Q: So, the first thing I’ll ask is if you want to expand on your presentation or your current project. (Xolani, as the only student representative at the event, presented his work, but had limited time to explain everything, so I wanted to give him a chance to dive a bit deeper.)

A: Okay, to expand on my project: Initially, my topic focused on Quarry Road, which is quite a specific area. However, my supervisor and I decided to change the topic to cover all the settlements in the area because we realized we couldn’t just focus on Quarry Road. There are other settlements that don’t get a chance to voice their concerns, and they also produce valuable information when you engage with them.

So now my project looks at informal settlements in the eThekwini Municipality to quantify the flood risks they are exposed to. We are also incorporating indigenous knowledge from the communities because being overly technical doesn’t always give you the edge.

When you introduce them to the project, you allow them to create their own knowledge and maps, in addition to using tools like ArcGIS and QGIS. This way, you can compare their maps with the technical ones.

Our goal is to identify risks and develop new communication strategies for the municipality. For example, during floods, not only are informal structures affected, but even formal ones. With constrained resources, the municipality can’t attend to everyone during floods.

So, we’re creating community-based strategies so that if a flood happens, they can take care of themselves. For instance, we’ve started training them on creating emergency evacuation routes.

Additionally, there’s a plan—not from me, but from an honors student—to create shelters for use during flood aftermaths. We’re trying to develop something community-based so that the municipality doesn’t have to waste resources.

In Quarry Road, we’ve seen improvements with training in first aid and fire safety. Now, we’re expanding to other settlements. The second informal settlement we’ve adopted is Poland Informal Settlement. Residents from Quarry Road are now teaching Poland residents, creating an interconnection.

Q: And then, just comparing to other coursework you’ve had—not only in your master’s but also in your undergrad—how has your work using the �鶹��Ƶ model in this course compared to just your regular average courses?

A: I believe it’s quite different because it’s more collaborative. In my honors research, I assessed the impacts of informal trade on women informal traders from Msunduzi. There were many of them, but I don’t feel they were given much of a voice to share their knowledge or experiences.

There was a disconnect because when I interviewed them, they felt I was from the authorities and became scared. As a result, I ended up using secondary data, which wasn’t as beneficial to the informal traders or the municipality.

But now, using the �鶹��Ƶ model, I’m funded under the project and able to work with the municipality, communities, and different entities like disaster management services and even the private sector.

For example, on Sunday morning, we presented something to residents in Quarry Road and another informal settlement. Now, it’s not just about floods; we’re including sanitation and other issues.

The �鶹��Ƶ model feels more fitting to my current research because more entities are willing to collaborate. It’s not just about submitting a good paper for marks but producing something that has real benefits for the future.

Personally, I don’t care about recognition or money. As long as I can see a slight difference in people’s lives and they can spread that positivity to other communities; that’s what matters.
The municipality has also opened doors to us. Over the past years, my supervisor has been a bridge between the municipality and community members. There was a gap, but now, for Quarry Road, we’ve developed an early warning system using a WhatsApp group.

The weather services inform the professor, who verifies the information and sends it to residents. This has lessened the number of casualties during floods because there’s now a connection. If the information came directly from the South African Weather Service, the community might not trust it, but because it comes from the professor, they respect it.

Q: I know you’re new to using the �鶹��Ƶ Model, but what’s a piece of advice you would give to a new student who’s maybe thinking about doing a course with this work or will be doing it for sure in the future?

A: My first advice is to have passion for what they do. Passion drives everything. They must be willing to listen to others. For example, you may have contradicting opinions, but you must respect others’ opinions and argue respectfully. Since yesterday, I haven’t had any clashes. It’s always about finding a solution. So, for me, it’s about having passion, creating a respectful environment, carrying yourself well, and being serious and eager to learn.

There are organizations with different governance styles, and I’ve been noting those down so I can expand my knowledge when I get home.

Written by: Jonathan Kroeze
Edited by: Ada Inman

During the �鶹��Ƶ-Africa Learning Event at the University of Pretoria in February 2025, �鶹��Ƶ facilitated a number of interviews with our members to highlight their experience implementing the �鶹��Ƶ Model, along with their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. You can read the first interview  the second interview , and our third interview . Our fourth interview is with Mamma Sawaneh, Lecturer and the University of Gambia. Read Mamma’s interview below:

Mamma Sawaneh, Instructor/Lecturer at the University of Gambia

Intro: My name is Dr. Mamma. I work with the University of The Gambia as a senior lecturer. I am also the scientific coordinator for a doctoral research program on Climate Change and Education, which is part of the WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) program.

WASCAL is a regional program, but at my university, I coordinate the doctoral program. My background is in agricultural and climate change economics at the university.

In terms of my involvement with �鶹��Ƶ, we started communication with �鶹��Ƶ around February 2024. They requested our involvement and wrote to my university. Later, my university identified me as the focal point for communication. We had our initial coordination meeting with �鶹��Ƶ, and they proposed a city refresher training.

We planned this training for April 2024, but it didn’t work out for Monrovia and Banjul. Later, we rescheduled the training for August 2024. The Gambia benefited from the first �鶹��Ƶ training, the �鶹��Ƶ Professor Training, held on the 11th and 12th of August.

In that training, I coordinated everything—inviting academia, communities, local authorities, and government institutions. On the first day of the two-day training, we had almost 20 participants from academia, local government, and the community. On the second day, we had close to 30 participants.

The training was very successful. Initially, participants thought the �鶹��Ƶ model was some kind of computer modeling. Some even brought their laptops, thinking we would do climate or educational modeling. But it was a different experience. By the end, participants appreciated what the �鶹��Ƶ model advocates for: respecting institutions, involving communities, and engaging faculty and students in solving societal problems through mutual respect and strong partnerships.

Q: What’s a specific challenge in your community or area that you think �鶹��Ƶ will be able to address in the future?

A: There are quite a number of societal issues that the �鶹��Ƶ model can address. For instance, at the university, we are currently involved in solving societal problems.

At the moment, I am a researcher in one of the projects aimed at enhancing community livelihoods. The project focuses on renewable energy, climate change, and land use management. We are targeting rural farmers involved in vegetable production.

What we are trying to do is see how they can use solar energy, specifically solar PV (photovoltaic) systems, in the context of renewable energy and a changing climate to address challenges and enhance livelihoods.

After the �鶹��Ƶ training, we tried to use the �鶹��Ƶ model to see how it could fit into addressing this societal problem. Traditionally, we would involve universities and communities, but the �鶹��Ƶ training changed our way of thinking. We also involved local authorities and development partners.

For example, we involved the Department of Agriculture to conduct soil testing and the Department of Water Resources to analyze water resources in the community. We also partnered with an NGO called Future in Hands, which works directly with the community and helps with policy advocacy.

We involved our students in data collection and community interaction. This goes beyond just conducting experiments in the community; it’s about building capacity and understanding. With the �鶹��Ƶ concept, this approach has helped us a lot.

We don’t have an �鶹��Ƶ program or funding, but we are using the �鶹��Ƶ model in our existing project to create an impact. It’s been very impactful for us.

Q: Based on what you’ve heard mostly yesterday from the more experienced �鶹��Ƶ members, what’s one takeaway you could use in your future projects from their success stories?

A: From the presentations, I would say a big lesson learned is from Latin America and Asia. They are doing great in terms of involving faculty, supervisors, and, most importantly, the community.

From their presentations, what we could do at our level is move this to the next level by domesticating and nationalizing the �鶹��Ƶ model. By nationalizing, I mean engaging more with the government, presenting the model to them, and seeing how the government can work directly with universities and communities.

As I mentioned yesterday, universities are known for three functions: teaching, research, and community service. Community service is very important. Universities are established to solve societal problems, but sometimes, using conventional methods, they address problems that might not align with societal needs.

With the �鶹��Ƶ model, you work directly with communities to ensure relevance. If we nationalize this, we can even see the national budget supporting universities and cities to help communities.

I think that’s a good takeaway, and we’ve learned a lot from Asia and Latin America. This can have a multiplier effect.

Final Remarks: Okay, the other thing I would like to emphasize is that, unlike other countries, The Gambia was just introduced to the �鶹��Ƶ model last year. We understand that this model can be implemented anywhere in the country, but we also want to be part of the �鶹��Ƶ network.

We want to register and possibly work on a joint proposal to implement �鶹��Ƶ models or programs in The Gambia. This will help create an evidence base because, to convince the government to nationalize it, we need an existing program.

After impact evaluation, we can showcase the results to the government, making it easier to nationalize. We are interested in writing a proposal, registering with the �鶹��Ƶ, and hopefully securing initial funding to kickstart an �鶹��Ƶ program in The Gambia. This will serve as empirical evidence.

Written by: Jonathan Kroeze
Edited by: Ada Inman

During the �鶹��Ƶ-Africa Learning Event at the University of Pretoria in February 2025, �鶹��Ƶ facilitated a number of interviews with our members to highlight their experience implementing the �鶹��Ƶ Model, along with their successes, challenges, and lessons learned. You can read the first interview and the second interview . Our third interview is with Evans Banana from the Dialogue on Shelter for the Urban Poor and  Slum Dwellers International (SDI). Read Evans’ interview below:

Evans Banana, Dialogue on Shelter for the Urban Poor / SDI (Slum Dwellers International)

Intro:
My name is Evans Banana. I work with an organization called Dialogue on Shelter for the Urban Poor, which is an SDI (Slum Dwellers International) affiliate based in Harare, Zimbabwe. I’ve been working with Dialogue on Shelter since 2007.

Dialogue on Shelter is involved in a number of urban development projects, mainly focusing on how we can end urban poverty through participatory means, working with organized communities.

In terms of my involvement with �鶹��Ƶ, it began when we partnered with Chinhoyi University of Technology through Dr. Murisa. We asked for assistance in documenting the impact of climate change in informal settlements, which is where Dialogue on Shelter and other SDI affiliates concentrate most of our work.
Naturally, we started having conversations from there. That’s when we realized there were many opportunities to collaborate with �鶹��Ƶ and perhaps amplify the findings we were getting. This collaboration ensures that students from Chinhoyi University of Technology also get access to informal settlements, and the informal settlements themselves are empowered by the students’ involvement. This helps communities understand some of the models, theories, and new approaches to engagement whenever they want to interact with local authorities, decision-makers, and policymakers. The involvement of students enhances and strengthens these messages.

Q: So most of your work deals with settlements, correct? [Nods yes] And you mentioned climate change and ending poverty. Is there something specific [related to climate change/poverty] that you could touch on that you think �鶹��Ƶ could help address in your community?

A: Yeah, I think the whole idea behind organizations like SDI and Dialogue on Shelter is that there’s something wrong with our urban development metrics and how governance and development are currently being delivered.

Our SDI models focus on slum upgrading. It’s not that we favor slums—quite the opposite. Slums are a reality in urban centers, and unless we take decisive action, we’ll continue to rely on default measures like demolitions and evictions. Before we know it, slums will become an even bigger concern.

So we are trying to convince all stakeholders that we need to comprehensively and viably address the issues of informal settlements. In Zimbabwe, we have several slum-upgrading projects underway. These projects specifically target slum dwellers, mobilize them, collaborate with local authorities, and work to deliver basic services and enhance tenure security. Tenure security is the key ingredient when it comes to building the resilience of these informal settlements.

In terms of climate change, we realize that even as we address tenure, housing, and basic infrastructure, the climate emergency is another pressing reality. Informal settlements are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. Specifically, we’ve begun taking deliberate and intentional steps to understand these impacts through what we’re calling participatory climate change vulnerability and impact assessments. This is where Chinhoyi University of Technology, through Professor Chipo, is helping us better understand the issues by bringing academia into the conversation.
The goal is to package all the findings, determine vulnerabilities, identify gaps, and co-create climate action plans with the affected communities.

Q: So what we’ve touched on a lot yesterday in this event is hearing from some successful projects and longer-standing members. Is there anything specific that you heard yesterday that you think is a good lesson for you to learn going forward, working with the �鶹��Ƶ model?

A: Yeah, definitely. I think coming from our background, we’ve always wondered where the research done by academia and students ends up. I think the �鶹��Ƶ project is trying to bridge that gap between research and the community, making sure the research ultimately benefits the affected communities. It stops being extractive and instead brings new knowledge into those communities.

What I also picked up yesterday is that these research studies aren’t done in isolation. There’s an element of co-creation and shared knowledge production. So, the involvement of communities in research—what others call community knowledge—ensures that such knowledge isn’t just seen as a resource but as a building block for generating solutions. This is something we, from the SDI and community perspective, really welcome. We’ve already started tapping into it, so the involvement of academia—especially students working on their master’s or PhDs—can inform the research. This ensures that learning, sharing, and empowering communities are embedded throughout the process.

Final Remarks:
Yeah, I think one thing I’ve taken away is that �鶹��Ƶ should place a stronger emphasis on forging collaborative reforms. There are many stakeholders working in the same space as �鶹��Ƶ, and we need to collaborate more strategically to build on the capacities of these organizations.

From the presentations yesterday, it seems there’s limited momentum around organizational collaboration. In Zimbabwe, there are many organizations, and our interaction and partnership
with �鶹��Ƶ have the potential to be much stronger. I think more needs to be done on both sides to strengthen that collaboration.

There’s definitely room for improvement, and we need to be more intentional about it. If other organizations are stronger on the community side, there’s a real need to partner with them to help build the capacity of communities. This ensures we create the soft infrastructure needed to anchor projects even beyond their formal lifespan. Projects may be temporary, but the communities remain.

Written by: Jonathan Kroeze
Edited by: Ada Inman