As climate change intensifies, its health impacts are felt most severely in economically vulnerable communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Local leaders play a critical role in driving change, prioritizing climate action relevant to their contexts, and ensuring health considerations are integrated into climate policies. Effective leadership can catalyze resilience and adaptive capacity in these communities.

In response, Dalberg partnered with the Wellcome Trust to design a public engagement leadership program and toolkit aimed at empowering changemakers working on climate and health. With equity, diversity, and inclusion at its core, the program was designed to bridge the gap between the two sectors, foster collaboration, and generate innovative solutions.

From 72 applicants, 18 changemakers from diverse backgrounds across the Global South were selected for the inaugural cohorts. The program combined one-on-one coaching, peer learning, and facilitated sessions, enabling participants to expand their leadership skills, leverage promising solutions, and develop innovative approaches. The curriculum was comprehensive, spanning climate change, health, public engagement, and leadership. It emphasized the intersectionality of climate and health, systems thinking for mobilizing stakeholders, public engagement as a driver of scale, adaptive leadership for sustaining movements, and equity and inclusion in climate interventions.

For example, participants explored how integrating a gender lens into climate action can strengthen equity and impact, or how adaptive leadership can help communities sustain momentum in the face of tough challenges. A public engagement toolkit encouraged changemakers to define goals, broaden outreach, and strengthen movements for long-term impact.

Our partnership with Wellcome Trust on the Climate x Health Public Engagement leadership program reveals the importance of equipping the next generation of changemakers with the skills and mindsets to collaborate in better ways–across systems, regions, and boundaries–to address the most pressing challenge of our time.”

Ravi Chhatpar

Co-Founder and Partner, Dalberg Design