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Welcome to the IEFG Brains in Gear Series. In this inaugural episode exploring education philanthropy and the climate crisis, we ask ourselves what we can do regarding the "climate-proofing of education philanthropy."

In this episode, we bring together four experts who are pioneering innovative approaches to climate-conscious education philanthropy across Africa and beyond:

Fia van Rensburg, Knowledge Manager at the Independent Philanthropy Association South Africa (IPASA), shares her groundbreaking work on addressing "climate anxiety" in the funding community and leading the development of Africa's first climate commitment for funders.

Kate O'Brien, Executive Director of the Costa Foundation, explains how they've integrated climate considerations into their 18-year mission of supporting education in coffee-growing communities, sharing practical examples from Guatemala to Uganda.

Simon Wanda, Programme Specialist at UNESCO, discusses how the Greening Education Partnership provides a welcoming entry point for education funders at any stage of their climate journey, with over 1,700 organizations already participating.

David Nkrumah-Boateng, Country Programme Lead for PEAS Ghana, offers insights from the ground level on co-designing climate-smart schools and the importance of locally-led, contextual solutions in climate-vulnerable communities.

Together, these four explore how philanthropic organisations can identify practical entry points for climate action without abandoning their core education mission. From addressing "climate anxiety" in the funding community to implementing solar-powered schools and climate-smart agriculture programs, this conversation offers actionable strategies for funders ready to take their first steps.

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You can follow the IEFG on LinkedIn here. https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-education-funders-group-iefg

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Welcome to the IEFG Brains in Gear Series. In this inaugural episode exploring education philanthropy and the climate crisis, we examine "The things that can happen when education and climate meet."

This episode explores a pivotal question: Can education funders fulfil their missions without addressing climate change? As host Sally Vivyan notes, "You can't be an education funder in lower and middle-income countries if you aren't thinking about intersections with climate." Our four discussants challenge us to recognise that most education funders are already climate funders - they're just not realising it yet.

Sally Vivyan, Co-Director of Gower Street, leads a spend-out grant maker focused on climate crisis intersections with education in Ghana and globally. She previously worked in international development and migration, holds a PhD in charity leadership, and continues writing on philanthropy topics.

Naghma Mulla, CEO of EdelGive Foundation, has spent over a decade transforming collaborative philanthropy in India. Under her leadership, EdelGive evolved from grant-making into a philanthropic asset management platform bringing together diverse stakeholders to co-design ambitious projects for India's most marginalised communities.

Francesca Beausang, Global Director of Communication and Partnerships at the Pharo Foundation, brings unique experience spanning academia and corporate finance. After completing her PhD at Cambridge University and lecturing at LSE, she transitioned to macroeconomics, covering emerging and developed markets. She has authored two books on globalisation and multinationals.

Ross Hall, Education Portfolio Lead for Fondation Botnar, models system change architecture, ensuring holistic child development while communities learn to thrive together, focusing on sustainable educational frameworks supporting individual growth and collective resilience.

Christina Kwauk, Ph.D., social scientist and policy analyst specialising in girls' education, 21st century skills, and gender-education-climate intersections. Co-editor of "Curriculum and Learning for Climate Action" and co-author of "What Works in Girls' Education," she serves as an education consultant at Unbounded Associates and co-founder of Unbounded Alliance.

Through candid discussions, these five reveal how climate change intensifies inequalities, examine barriers preventing greater climate education investment, and offer practical solutions for moving from indirect to direct climate action through education. From insights on India's education system, where only 120,000 of 1 million schools have eco clubs, to Kenyan water bank schools boosting attendance up to 95%, this conversation provides sobering realities and inspiring innovations.

The discussion emphasises education as the strongest predictor of adaptive capacity while warning against limiting impact to indirect links. Speakers advocate for intentional climate education integration, systemic resilience approaches, and collaborative action moving beyond silos to create change at the scale and speed our climate crisis demands.

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! And don't forget to rate and recommend this podcast to your colleagues.

You can follow the IEFG on LinkedIn here. https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-education-funders-group-iefg

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Welcome to the “Brains in Gear” series, or as we like to call it, the BIG series, brought to you by the International Education Funders Group (IEFG).

This podcast is a space for dynamic, timely conversations on varied themes most relevant to the current global landscape in education. This year, we're focusing on a theme that should demand the attention of every education funder: Education Philanthropy and the Climate Crisis.

We will tackle the often unspoken questions that education funders are facing. Can education funders reach their goals without addressing climate? Why has it been so difficult for education philanthropy to step into climate education? How can education funders start integrating a climate lens into their existing portfolios without derailing core priorities? What are the most promising entry points for action?

Throughout the series, you’ll hear from funders, practitioners, and thought leaders who are grappling with these questions in real time. They’ll share what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next.

So whether you're an education funder looking to understand where climate fits into your mission, a climate funder curious about how education can support your goals, or simply someone eager to better understand how philanthropy is evolving in the face of the climate crisis, this podcast is for you.

Get your Brains in Gear, and join us as we navigate one of the most important conversations in global education today.

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! And don't forget to rate and recommend this podcast to your colleagues.

You can follow the IEFG on LinkedIn here. https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-education-funders-group-iefg