Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Ethiopia is advancing climate-resilient and inclusive education systems for pastoralist communities through the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI), implemented by the Ministry of Education with support from UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO).
Pastoralist communities represent an estimated 12–15 percent of Ethiopia's population and occupy over 60 percent of the country's land. The impacts of rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and erratic rainfall have disrupted their livelihoods and children’s access to education, underscoring the need for flexible, responsive, and inclusive education systems.
To address these challenges, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken, including policy reviews, stakeholder mapping, interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory engagement with pastoralist communities. This process provided evidence on climate risks to education and identified effective practices, informing the development of strategic guidance to strengthen climate resilience while respecting pastoralist livelihoods, cultures, and indigenous knowledge.
Building on this work, UNESCO and Ethiopia's Ministry of Education held a two-day national workshop in Addis Ababa from 28 to 29 July 2026 to validate findings and co-develop strategic guidance for inclusive, gender-responsive, and climate-smart education tailored to pastoralist communities. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Education, Regional Education Bureaus in major pastoralist regions, UNESCO, IIEP-UNESCO, Save the Children, relevant ministries, the Ethiopia Environmental Protection Authority, the National Education Cluster, UNICEF, FAO, the World Bank, the Pastoralist Forum of Ethiopia, and technical experts.