New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) From ‘five whys’ method to help uncover root causes of environmental problems to deeper questioning to vulnerability-based needs assessment to prioritise support for the most affected communities, the UNICEF on Friday launched a new climate action workbook for young people in India.
Titled 'Pathways: From Leadership to Advocacy', the workbook was launched by UNICEF YuWaah and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies at the youth-focused event ‘Shaping the Future with India’s Youth’.
The workbook was co-developed by Bring Back Green Foundation and young practitioners with support from UNICEF YuWaah, designed to build youth capacity in identifying local challenges, applying problem-solving approaches and advancing their journey in climate action.
The workbook aims to encourage the youth to reflect, journal and collaborate, and is flexible enough to be used by first-timers and experienced climate advocates alike.
The workbook introduces a suite of tools for youth-led action, including the ‘five whys’ method to dig deeper into environmental problems, vulnerability-based needs assessments to prioritize the most affected groups and resource mapping to identify local assets and partnerships.
At the core of the workbook is the ‘five whys’ method - a simple but powerful exercise that challenges users to repeatedly ask “why” an issue exists until they reach its root cause.
For example, in a flood-prone coastal village, the young leaders may start with “why do we face regular flooding?” and dig through layers such as mangrove depletion, climate change and policy gaps.
Once the challenges are identified, the users are prompted to conduct a vulnerability-based needs assessment, helping ensure that interventions address the most pressing issues faced by the most at-risk populations.
Drawing inspiration from Kerala’s Kudumbashree model, this tool emphasizes community conversations and participatory decision-making to prioritize action.
The workbook also stressed on advocacy: how to effectively engage decision-makers with not just problems but well-structured, actionable solutions. It advises the young leaders to “know your audience” and tailor messages to gain meaningful support.