Climate and Education
Our approach
Combine data science and community voices…
…to highlight the likely impacts of climate change on education systems and attainment in developing countries.
Intersectional approach
Support solutions based on the intersecting nature of climate change and education in relation to issues such as poverty, marginalisation, gender inequality, conflict, migration.
Impact at multiple levels
Our climate change response work focuses on policy and planning, infrastructure, and community responses to a changing climate, extreme weather events, and climate crises
Now and the future
The aim is to improve conditions in the present, help governments and schools minimise the impacts of climate change, and support transformation in the education sector.
Impactful research
Underpinning this is a need for rigorous evidence on various aspects of the relationships between climate, extreme weather, climate change and education.
The pillars of Fab’s climate change and education plan…
Develop data and context informed knowledge and solutions for tackling the impacts of climate change on education in developing countries.
Strengthen the integration of climate change into all aspects of Fab Inc climate related work.
Demonstrate evidence of Fab Inc expertise on the links between climate change education through impactful research.
Expand Fab Inc’s portfolio of climate change and education projects and networks.
Three ways that schooling is being disrupted - we are working on projects related to all three
Children and teachers are present but can’t learn
– Children are hungry due to crop failures (drought)
– Classrooms are too hot to learn
– Classrooms are too noisy from rain to hear lessons
Related project: FCDO
We’re working with Laterite In Tanzania to assess the impacts of climate extremes on education attainment.
Looking at extreme heat, light, rainfall, and flooding.
Schools are open but access is restricted
– Rainy season means roads become inaccessible
– Drought/crop failure means children are pulled out of school
Related project: World Bank
Mapping GIS data to highlight the impacts of flooding on school accessibility in Sierra Leone.
Working on a World Bank report integrating spatial algorithms to support flood resilience in Sierra Leone.
Schools are damaged
– Disasters mean that schools are closed
– Can be short term (while drying classrooms)
– Or long term – while rebuilding
Related project: IRC
We are working with IRC to develop an anticipatory action for education model in Sierra Leone.
Combining data mapping and community-based research.
Holistic approach to educational continuity during crisis.
Our climate change and education experience
Climate-Smart School Construction Planning
Ahead of COP-26 we published a self-funded guidance note on climate-smart school construction planning.
Location planning tool for new schools in Sierra Leone
We have invested in building cutting edge data systems and tools to help governments and education policy-makers to update their planning and programming to allow smarter more resilient education solutions that take account of climate change. Our tool for optimising the location of new schools includes flood modelling.
Click here to see our MBSSE Algorithm for School Location Optimisation
Sierra Leone: Climate-Smart Construction Guidelines
In Sierra Leone we are working with the Ministry of Education to create guidelines that will enable school establishment and school upgrading to be done in a climate-smart way, integrating climate change into education policy approaches.
Our Latest Publications
Temperature, Rainfall, and Learning – Evidence from School Surveys in Tanzania
This report delves into how extreme heat and rainfall affect the learning environment in Tanzanian schools. Based on surveys and observations in 48 schools, the study reveals that poor classroom design leads to heat build-up, especially in Dodoma, and that flooding and noise from rainfall are major disruptions in other regions. With over half of the surveyed classrooms frequently exceeding 26.7°C, learning conditions are far from ideal. The report calls for investments in climate-adaptive infrastructure to keep classrooms cool, dry, and conducive to learning, aiming to foster resilience as climate challenges intensify in Tanzania and other low- to middle-income countries. This report was produced in partnership with Laterite and on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Fab Inc. and Laterite (2024)
Flooding and Schooling in Sierra Leone
This report uncovers the alarming impact of frequent flooding on Sierra Leone’s educational infrastructure. Utilising data from over 12,000 schools and a Flood Vulnerability Index developed in partnership with the World Bank and endorsed by the Government of Sierrra Leone, the study reveals that 984 schools have experienced flooding in the past three years, putting nearly 246,000 students at risk. It highlights specific regions, such as Western Area Urban and Bonthe, as most affected. With recommendations for robust flood-resilience measures, this report emphasises the urgency of safeguarding educational continuity through enhanced infrastructure and community-supported prevention strategies in high-risk areas.
Fab Inc. (2024)
We are building on the work of others, to help structure conversations and investments
Addressing the climate, environment, and biodiversity crises in and through girls’ education
“Too often climate and environment change is viewed in isolation from education. If we want to effectively tackle these priority issues, we must better understand how they are linked and find integrated solutions.”
“Disasters are increasing in severity and occurring almost five times as frequently as 40 years ago, disrupting the education of 40 million children a year, predominantly in low and lower middle-income countries.”
Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office. (2022)