Call for Master’s Scholarships in Climate Change & Sustainability Education – 2026

1. Background

The Implementation Framework for Nationally Determined Contribution shows that high poverty levels, limited institutional capacity for adaptation, and biophysical setting predispose Zambia to adverse impacts of climate change. The NDC targets GHG emission reduction of 47 percent by 2030 with international support. Despite a robust legal framework, daunting challenges remain to shift behaviours and raise the needed capacity to attain the green transition as also enshrined in the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP). FACE-NDC Project intends to support the implementation of the National Climate Change Learning Strategy (NCCLS, 2019) and strengthen individual and institutional capacities in Zambia to deliver on climate change mitigation, such as to develop integrated and cross-sectoral capacity-building and educational programmes that help actualize NDC (3.0) mitigation priorities with adaptation co-benefits, as well as general education and skills development. FACE-NDC also responds to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially SDG 13 and SDG 4. The University of Zambia (UNZA), through the School of Education, is one of the five consortium partners in the FACE-NDC Project 2023 to 2030, with FAO as the lead partner together with UNESCO, UNITAR, and CBU. The Project is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI). As one of its focus areas, FACE-NDC under Work Package 4 aims at providing Masters training scholarships in a phased way.

2. Call for Applications for Scholarships

Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals for scholarships to study Climate Change & Sustainability Education with a strong focus on Behavioural Science at the University of Zambia, School of Education, at the Masters level.

Level of study: Master’s Degree

Number of scholarships: Ten (10)

Mode of study: Full Time/Blended

Commencement Date: Immediately upon selection (2026 Academic Year)

Programme: Master of Climate Change & Sustainability Education

Duration: Two years

Note: Successful applicants must be ready to commence their studies immediately upon selection.

3. Eligibility

All applicants (excluding public workers/ civil servants) for the Master’s Degree should have the following:

1. A Bachelor's Degree in Climate Change & Environmental Education, Psychology or Behavioural Science, Geography, Environmental Management, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Engineering, Forestry, Law, ICT or Programming, Science Education, Development Studies, Curriculum or a related field from a recognized university;
2. Must be Zambian with a valid National Registration Card;
3. Not a beneficiary of another funded scholarship at the time of application;
4. Must be ready and available to start the programme immediately upon being selected
5. Aged 35 and below
6. Work experience will be an added advantage, but not a requirement
7. Women and person with disability are particularly encouraged to apply

8. Attach a concept note on application based on one of the following thematic areas:

9. Thematic Areas of Focus for Concept Notes

Applicants are required to submit a concept note situated within one of the following thematic areas:

1. Sustainable Consumption and Production, Behavioural Change and Circular Economy
2. Gender and Social norms
3. Forestry management and green transitioning of formal education settings
4. Artificial Intelligence and pro-environmental behaviours
5. Climate and sustainability education & Green school quality standard
6. Natural resource/biodiversity conservation and restoration through behavioural science
7. Climate Justice
8. Public-sector capacity and institutional dimensions of NDC implementation and green economy transition

• institutional capacity and barriers to mainstreaming climate change and green economy considerations into sector policies, plans and programmes;
• integration of climate and green economy considerations into public-sector planning, budgeting and investment decisions;
• institutional coordination and organisational/behavioural factors influencing implementation of climate and green economy priorities; and
• use of climate information and evidence in public-sector policy and decision-making. etc

9. Private-sector engagement, green entrepreneurship and green business transition

• barriers and incentives for SMEs and other businesses to adopt greener and more resource-efficient practices;
• green entrepreneurship, innovation and development of green business models and value chains;
• green jobs and emerging skills requirements in priority economic sectors; and
• private-sector awareness of and opportunities for contributing to NDC 3.0 and the Green Growth Strategy. Etc.

10. Greening agriculture and forestry

• Skills and capacity requirements for the green transition of Zambia's agriculture and forestry sectors;
• barriers and incentives affecting adoption of climate-smart, sustainable and low-emission practices by farmers, forestry actors and businesses;
• green entrepreneurship, jobs and value-chain opportunities in agriculture and forestry;
• institutional and private-sector capacity to support sustainable agriculture, forestry, conservation and restoration; and
• behavioural, institutional and economic factors influencing uptake of sustainable land, agriculture and forestry practices.

11. Climate finance, green investment and carbon markets

• Public-sector knowledge and capacity to access, mobilise and manage climate and green finance;
• barriers to private-sector and SME access to green finance and investment;
• financing mechanisms and investment opportunities for the green transition, including in agriculture and forestry;
• institutional and technical capacity requirements for participation in carbon markets; and

• opportunities for mobilising public and private investment towards NDC 3.0 and Green Growth Strategy priorities.

5. Application Process

The applicant shall submit: a cover letter of application for the scholarship, two reference letters, and a concept note of no more than 1000 words outlining the thematic area of study (selected from the list above), the proposed title in relation to the thematic areas, and the general idea of what is to be researched and the motivation for the choice of such an idea.

Applications for scholarship can be sent electronically to: dean-edu@unza.zm copied to mmuchanga@unza.zm; marvin.kapenda@fao.org; a.sikayile@unesco.org; vincent.ziba@fao.org

Only shortlisted candidates shall proceed to apply for admission using the normal application channel through UNZA DRGS online at https://graduate.unza.zm/graduate/online-application with support from the programme coordinator. Those who are already enrolled at the University of Zambia and are in their first year of study at the Masters level can also apply, as long as they meet the above criteria.

6. Selection Process

The selection shall be done in a transparent and objective way possible using localised selection criteria: Merit, potential novelty of the proposed study, 50% of the slots will be for females and person with disability applicants with demonstratable competences, whereas the 50% shall be equally competed for. All applicants shall be screened in the first round and only shortlisted candidates will proceed to the second round of presentation and oral defence of their concepts. The final top 10 shall be selected in the third and final round. Unethical use of AI content shall lead to instant disqualification. The scholarship shall cover full tuition fees, partial research fees, partial monthly stipend and annual book allowance. Scholarship is tenable within 2 years, and no extensions shall be allowed.

Closing date: 4th September 2026.

For further inquiries contact:

Dr. Manoah Muchanga

Principal Investigator

mmuchanga@unza.zm