The upcoming international seminar on Women’s Leadership and Inclusive Climate Action: From Policy to Implementation provides an important opportunity to recognise that climate leadership is already occurring—not only in boardrooms and conference halls, but within communities themselves.

The Centre’s Indigenous Knowledge Innovation Systems (AIKS) research programme explores precisely this intersection between policy, Indigenous knowledge, science and implementation. Current initiatives examine women-led climate resilience, Indigenous food systems, traditional ecological knowledge, community disaster preparedness, green entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, Indigenous innovation, youth leadership, psychosocial resilience and municipal policy integration.

Research from eThekwini townships demonstrates how women are using Indigenous crops, community savings networks, ecological observation, early-warning systems and collective care to strengthen resilience against climate impacts. Rather than viewing Indigenous Knowledge as historical, these initiatives position it as a living innovation system capable of informing sustainable development, climate adaptation and local governance.

As conversations increasingly shift from climate policy toward implementation, Indigenous Knowledge Innovation Systems offer practical examples of community-led solutions that are locally grounded while contributing to global sustainability agendas. The seminar presents an opportunity not only to learn from international experiences, but also to share how African Indigenous Knowledge can contribute meaningfully to climate resilience worldwide.