Page 18 - CMA Journal (Nov-Dec 2025)

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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ICMA: Climate Action Forum brings together civil ICMA: Which community-led sectors, like climate
society, researchers, and communities. How does this smart agriculture or local conservation initiatives,
collaboration strengthen climate action across show the most promise for building resilience?
Pakistan?
Dr. Roomi Hayat: The strongest results are emerging
Dr. Roomi Hayat: Pakistan’s climate challenges cannot where communities are enabled through technical
be addressed in isolation. When practitioners, support and linkages and then these aware community
researchers, and communities work together, they blend members manage their natural resources. Climate smart
scientific insight with lived realities. This collaboration agriculture, participatory water management, rangeland
ensures that climate responses are not only technically rehabilitation, and village-led conservation efforts
sound but also socially grounded and locally achievable. consistently show good returns. These sectors work
It also creates a unified front strengthened by scientific because they combine indigenous knowledge with
evidence which allows policymakers and other modern scientific techniques, allowing communities to
stakeholders to make more coherent climate action adapt quickly and sustainably. Community buy-in is the
across the country. most significant factor in the success of any such initiative.
The outcome is better yields, reduced water conflict,
ICMA: What innovative approaches has CAF used to biodiversity protection, and reduced disaster losses.
support grassroots climate projects that might not fit
into conventional funding channels?
Dr. Roomi Hayat: Many promising ideas originate at
the grassroots level but struggle to secure formal
funding. We respond by creating linkages that connect
local innovators with technical mentors, partnering
organizations, and platforms that can amplify their work.
Instead of a rigid funding model, we focus on enabling
access: visibility, partnerships, and small innovative
micro-pilots and seed support, matchmaking,
incubation and mentorship, storytelling and visibility,
and flexible criteria. Such unconventional ideas
demonstrate impact and eventually attract larger
investments that lead to climate smart decisions.

Dr. Roomi S. Hayat

Chairperson, Climate Action Forum (CAF) &
Chair, Certification Panel at
Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP)

n
³ Pakistan’s climate challenges cannot
not
be addressed in isolation. When
practitioners, researchers, and

communities work together, they blend
d
scientific insight with lived realities.

This collaboration ensures that climate
e
responses are not only technically

sound but also socially grounded and

locally achievable ³

2
02
ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Nov-Dec, 20255