The University of Zambia (UNZA) through the Facility for Climate Empowerment to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) project which is collaboratively being implemented by five consortium partners namely FAO, UNESCO, UNITAR, CBU and the University of Zambia has awarded scholarships to 10 doctoral candidates who emerged successful from a rigorous and highly competitive selection process.
Five of the PhD candidates will focus their research on renewable energy, directly supporting Work Package 8 of the FACE-NDC project which is central to the national agenda, promoting renewable energy technologies as critical pathways to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.
While the remaining five PhD recipients will specialise in behavioural science, an emerging field in climate change mitigation Initiatives under Work Package 4, which examines how behavioural interventions can influence both individual and societal actions towards sustainability. Their work will support Zambia’s aspiration to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of a 47% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to the doctoral scholarships, five Master’s-level awards were also presented to candidates in renewable energy. Besides the scholarships the FACE-NDC project has catalysed the development of four new postgraduate programmes at UNZA, establishing the University as a regional leader in Climate Change Education and Behavioural Science as well as Renewable Energy Research. The newly established programmes include:
1. Master of Climate Change and Sustainability Education hosted in the School of Education, this programme has attracted 15 self-sponsored students and offers a robust behavioural science focus.
2. PhD in Climate Change and Sustainability Education also housed in the School of Education, this growing programme now has 14 registered students, five of whom received scholarships at the May 15 ceremony.
3. Master of Science in Renewable Energy. A multidisciplinary programme jointly offered by the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering, and School of Agricultural Science as well as,
4. PhD in Renewable Energy
Speaking during the award ceremony, Minister of Green Economy and Environment Honorable Mike Mposha in a speech read on behalf by the Permanent Secretary Dr Doubt Chibamba reaffirmed the Government of the Republic of Zambia’s full support for the FACE-NDC project and its objectives. “We will continue to work hand-in-hand with our local and international partners to ensure that Zambia meets and exceeds its climate commitments. Our universities are key to this transformation. They are not only knowledge hubs but engines of innovation. The partnership between UNZA, CBU, and the international community in this project is an example of how academia can directly shape national policy and climate action,” he said.
The minister stressed the importance of behavioral science and renewable energy the two pillars of the scholarship programme adding that shifting societal mindsets, and accelerating the transition to clean, affordable energy, are critical to the national goals. “We must do this through education, evidence-based policies, and inclusive participation especially by our youth. To our new scholars: seize this opportunity with dedication and purpose. Let your studies not end in theory, but in solutions solutions that transform lives, protect our environment, and drive our nation forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, the University of Zambia, Vice Chancellor Prof Mundia Muya in a speech ready on his behalf by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation Prof Trywell Kalusopa said UNZA was deeply proud to be a core partner in this transformative initiative, which aligns closely with institutions’ mission which is aimed at contributing to national development through research, innovation, and the nurturing of talent. “I wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, our collaborating institutions, and the generous support from the international climate initiative of Germany. The FACE-NDC project represents a bold and forward-looking approach to tackling climate change. It places education, research, and behaviour change at the heart of climate action. For us in academia, this is more than a project, it is a call to responsibility,” he said.
Prof Muya said universities are uniquely positioned to generate the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to shape climate-resilient futures. “Through FACE-NDC project, the University of Zambia is not only supporting high-level training in renewable energy and behavioural science but also embedding climate responsiveness across disciplines and faculties,” he said.
Speaking on the progress, Dr. Manoah Muchanga, Principal Investigator for the FACE-NDC project, expressed deep satisfaction with the project’s trajectory. “We are proud of the strides made so far. These scholarships and academic programmes are not just about capacity building; they are strategic investments in Zambia’s sustainable future. With this momentum, we are confident that the FACE-NDC initiative will continue to serve as a cornerstone for national and regional climate action,” he said.
Dr. Muchanga specifically oversees Work Package 4 (Strengthening formal education to build climate resilience and mitigation) while Dr. Rajan Rheka is leading Work Package 8 (renewable energy) within the project, ensuring that both the scientific and educational dimensions of climate action are integrated and impactful.
The project is running from 2023-2030.