Capacity Building
Strategic Programme Design and Implementation
With over 16 years of experience at the intersection of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Social and Emotional and Digital Learning, and Climate Change Education, I have been committed to empowering educators, students, communities, and organizations to promote sustainable practices and create meaningful social impact. My work with multilateral organizations such as UNESCO, UNHCR, and AXA Climate School has focused on integrating sustainability and digital learning into educational systems globally.
Empowering Educators through Training and Development
One of the core aspects of my capacity-building efforts has been training educators to integrate sustainability into their teaching. As the Climate Change and Social and Emotional Learning Specialist at UNESCO MGIEP, I designed and implemented flagship online Climate Change and Biodiversity courses, which engaged over 10,000 learners from 126 countries. These courses provided teachers with the tools to build climate literacy and encourage pro-environmental behaviors among students.
In addition, I led a Training of Trainers (ToT) program in Kyrgyzstan, offering technical support to master trainers who went on to train other educators across the region. This cascading model ensured that knowledge and skills reached a wider audience, amplifying the impact of the initiative.
Integrating Digital Learning for Marginalized Communities
While serving as the Digital Inclusion and Pedagogy Lead at UNHCR, I focused on enhancing digital literacy among educators in refugee-hosting communities. I developed toolkits and guidelines to integrate EdTech solutions into national education systems, allowing teachers to effectively use digital tools to enhance learning outcomes. I also led teacher training workshops that helped educators adapt to new technologies and maintain high-quality education in low resource contexts.
My work in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region involved collaborating with national education stakeholders to align digital learning solutions with regional priorities, ensuring that our efforts were scalable and sustainable.
Building Community Capacities for Climate Action
I’ve also had the opportunity to work closely with communities on sustainability initiatives. At The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), I led a year-long project in Delhi’s urban slums, organizing women into a small enterprise that repurposed plastic waste into useful products like handbags and baskets. This initiative addressed both environmental concerns and women’s empowerment by creating sustainable livelihoods.
Leading Regional and International Capacity-Building Networks
At UNESCO MGIEP, I helped scale the Digital Intercultural Exchange (DICE) curriculum, impacting 50 schools and training more than 1,000 teachers and students. I worked with national commissions, NGOs, and academic institutions to successfully implement the program and secured $300,000 in funding to support these efforts.
I also led capacity-building initiatives through UNESCO’s Regional Centre of Expertise Network, where I supported over 30 partners working in education for sustainable development. My work involved strengthening partnerships, developing monitoring and evaluation processes, and building the capacity of local education stakeholders to promote sustainability in their communities.
