How can carbon finance do more to strengthen rural livelihoods and empower the communities on the frontlines of climate change? Social Impact Pioneers - Anna Kilpatrick, from PUR, Ann Vaughan & Lilian Gwazayo of CARE, and Olaf Westermann, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) explore this critical question.
The conversation, in turn, hears from people implementing carbon finance programmes with a focus on deepening livelihood benefits in countries from around the world, including Mr. Matola Sigele in Malawi; Karimi in Cambodia; Emmanuel and Joshua in Uganda.
Together, they unpack how nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and community-led restoration can deliver climate impact rooted in equity and sustainability. The conversation dives into payment for ecosystem services, carbon equity, and the importance of long-term investment in communities that steward forests and farmlands.
You will hear how carbon projects are reshaping livelihoods—improving food security, empowering women, and restoring degraded landscapes. And also some of the challenges - in making these programmes work - whether land rights, short-term rewards, or understandable skepticism.
This episode offers practical insights for businesses, investors, and NGOs seeking to align carbon finance integrity with inclusive development.
Listen now to explore how climate finance can be a cornerstone of sustainable livelihoods—not just a co-benefit.
This conversation is hosted by Yvette Torres-Rahman, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty.
Social Impact Pioneers:
- Anna Kilpatrick, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at PUR, whose agroforestry projects help global companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains while improving smallholder incomes.
- Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President for Resilient Futures at CARE, leading work to unlock climate finance that reaches 25 million people, especially women and girls.
- Olaf Westermann, Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Agriculture at CRS, connecting conservation, livelihoods, and equity in nature-based carbon projects worldwide.
- Lilian Gwazayo, Field Advisor, & Environmental Scientist, CARE, Malawi.
Links:
Redd+ Projects: https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd
PUR: https://www.pur.co/
Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/
Care: Malawi We Staan Nog Steeds: https://www.carenederland.org/verhaal/malawi-we-staan-nog-steeds
Care: Malawi: Herstel van groene vegetatie draagt bij aan duurzame toekomst
https://www.carenederland.org/nieuws/malawi-het-herstellen-van-groene-vegetatie
CARE Malawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-international-in-malawi/posts/?feedView=all
CARE Nederland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-nederland/posts/?feedView=all
Restore Africa: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/
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with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
How can carbon finance do more to strengthen rural livelihoods and empower the communities on the frontlines of climate change? Social Impact Pioneers - Anna Kilpatrick, from PUR, Ann Vaughan & Lilian Gwazayo of CARE, and Olaf Westermann, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) explore this critical question.
The conversation, in turn, hears from people implementing carbon finance programmes with a focus on deepening livelihood benefits in countries from around the world, including Mr. Matola Sigele in Malawi; Karimi in Cambodia; Emmanuel and Joshua in Uganda.
Together, they unpack how nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and community-led restoration can deliver climate impact rooted in equity and sustainability. The conversation dives into payment for ecosystem services, carbon equity, and the importance of long-term investment in communities that steward forests and farmlands.
You will hear how carbon projects are reshaping livelihoods—improving food security, empowering women, and restoring degraded landscapes. And also some of the challenges - in making these programmes work - whether land rights, short-term rewards, or understandable skepticism.
This episode offers practical insights for businesses, investors, and NGOs seeking to align carbon finance integrity with inclusive development.
Listen now to explore how climate finance can be a cornerstone of sustainable livelihoods—not just a co-benefit.
This conversation is hosted by Yvette Torres-Rahman, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty.
Social Impact Pioneers:
- Anna Kilpatrick, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at PUR, whose agroforestry projects help global companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains while improving smallholder incomes.
- Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President for Resilient Futures at CARE, leading work to unlock climate finance that reaches 25 million people, especially women and girls.
- Olaf Westermann, Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Agriculture at CRS, connecting conservation, livelihoods, and equity in nature-based carbon projects worldwide.
- Lilian Gwazayo, Field Advisor, & Environmental Scientist, CARE, Malawi.
Links:
Redd+ Projects: https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd
PUR: https://www.pur.co/
Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/
Care: Malawi We Staan Nog Steeds: https://www.carenederland.org/verhaal/malawi-we-staan-nog-steeds
Care: Malawi: Herstel van groene vegetatie draagt bij aan duurzame toekomst
https://www.carenederland.org/nieuws/malawi-het-herstellen-van-groene-vegetatie
CARE Malawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-international-in-malawi/posts/?feedView=all
CARE Nederland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-nederland/posts/?feedView=all
Restore Africa: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/
The Future of Climate Action: Youth Leadership and Systems Change with Penelope and Hassan
Social Impact Pioneers
45 minutes 42 seconds
2 months ago
The Future of Climate Action: Youth Leadership and Systems Change with Penelope and Hassan
The Future of Climate Action: Youth Leadership and Systems Change
In this episode of Social Impact Pioneers, we explore how the next generation is reshaping climate action, social innovation and systems change—not by waiting their turn, but by leading from the front. Meet Social Impact Pioneers: Penelope Gregoriou and Muhammad Hassan Dajana.
Penelope and Hassan are both World Economic Forum Global Shapers and join this conversation to share insights and experiences from Cyprus and Pakistan respectively.
Penelope is a sustainability strategist and ESG expert with a sharp focus on climate finance, sustainability reporting and transformative systems change. An alumni of the UN SDG Innovator programme and a member of the World Benchmarking Alliance, she combines technical rigour with a deep commitment to centring humanity in climate policy.
Hassan is a Fulbright Scholar and edtech entrepreneur scaling climate education across Pakistan. His projects—spotlighted by the UN and World Economic Forum—range from planting 10,000+ trees in urban heat zones to pioneering “green masjids” that embed environmental stewardship within religious teaching. His mission is bold: to empower 100 million learners to engage with climate justice.
Together, they explore a grassroots leadership that is bold, collaborative and global in its reach. From rethinking how we measure impact to driving climate adaptation through community-led solutions, Penelope and Hassan share practical insights into how young innovators are disrupting silos, bridging sectors, and transforming moral urgency into policy reality.
Listeners will discover:
• How youth-led climate solutions are scaling from the ground up.
• Why grassroots leadership is central to tackling systemic inaction.
• How collaboration across business, civil society and government is shaping a more resilient future.
If you’re searching for fresh thinking on leadership, collaboration and systems change, this conversation is essential listening.
Social Impact Pioneers—where the changemakers of today shape the world of tomorrow.
Links:
• Muhammad Hassan Dajana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassandajana/
• Penelope Gregoriou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-gregoriou/
• The Global Shapers Community: globalshapers.org
• World Economic Forum: Leveraging green, blue and social infrastructure for disaster recovery and preparedness: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/leveraging-green-blue-and-social-infrastructure-for-disaster-recovery-and-preparedness/
• World Benchmarking Alliance: https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org
And if you liked this episode, take a listen to:
Business-NGO Partnerships for Social Impact, With Diageo and Care: https://businessfightspoverty.org/business-ngo-partnerships-for-social-impact-with-diageo-and-care/
Social Impact Pioneers
How can carbon finance do more to strengthen rural livelihoods and empower the communities on the frontlines of climate change? Social Impact Pioneers - Anna Kilpatrick, from PUR, Ann Vaughan & Lilian Gwazayo of CARE, and Olaf Westermann, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) explore this critical question.
The conversation, in turn, hears from people implementing carbon finance programmes with a focus on deepening livelihood benefits in countries from around the world, including Mr. Matola Sigele in Malawi; Karimi in Cambodia; Emmanuel and Joshua in Uganda.
Together, they unpack how nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and community-led restoration can deliver climate impact rooted in equity and sustainability. The conversation dives into payment for ecosystem services, carbon equity, and the importance of long-term investment in communities that steward forests and farmlands.
You will hear how carbon projects are reshaping livelihoods—improving food security, empowering women, and restoring degraded landscapes. And also some of the challenges - in making these programmes work - whether land rights, short-term rewards, or understandable skepticism.
This episode offers practical insights for businesses, investors, and NGOs seeking to align carbon finance integrity with inclusive development.
Listen now to explore how climate finance can be a cornerstone of sustainable livelihoods—not just a co-benefit.
This conversation is hosted by Yvette Torres-Rahman, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty.
Social Impact Pioneers:
- Anna Kilpatrick, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at PUR, whose agroforestry projects help global companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains while improving smallholder incomes.
- Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President for Resilient Futures at CARE, leading work to unlock climate finance that reaches 25 million people, especially women and girls.
- Olaf Westermann, Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Agriculture at CRS, connecting conservation, livelihoods, and equity in nature-based carbon projects worldwide.
- Lilian Gwazayo, Field Advisor, & Environmental Scientist, CARE, Malawi.
Links:
Redd+ Projects: https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd
PUR: https://www.pur.co/
Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/
Care: Malawi We Staan Nog Steeds: https://www.carenederland.org/verhaal/malawi-we-staan-nog-steeds
Care: Malawi: Herstel van groene vegetatie draagt bij aan duurzame toekomst
https://www.carenederland.org/nieuws/malawi-het-herstellen-van-groene-vegetatie
CARE Malawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-international-in-malawi/posts/?feedView=all
CARE Nederland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-nederland/posts/?feedView=all
Restore Africa: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/
