Centering Communities and Fostering Collaboration in Climate and Health

January 28, 2025

In Conversation with Mutile Mwongo – Systems Practice Pathfinder | Climate & Health Research Affiliate at Development Dynamics

Introducing Mutile Mwongo

Mutile Mwongo, a Kenyan born in Nairobi, has a background in microbiology and biotechnology. She credits her studies with inspiring her interest in the interconnections between life forms and nature, fueling her curiosity about the nexus of climate change and health.

She recalls how learning about biology and ecology, the balance that nature must maintain, and how different microorganisms act when they interact with human beings has been helpful and has played an important role in her evolution as a health practitioner interested in climate change.

More recently, Mutile has become intrigued by the wider context from a systems perspective, striving to understand the structures and systems that have contributed to the problem of climate change. She is eager to delve deeper into power hierarchies and dynamics, geopolitics, and social and cultural complexities that make addressing the challenges of climate change and health particularly difficult.

Mutile’s interest in exploring the impact of climate change on health – The Why? 

Mutile remembers the COVID-19 pandemic as a tipping point that led to her interest in exploring the impact of climate change on health.

I recall several months into the lockdown in different parts of the world; people were noticing how it seemed like nature was reclaiming its space, so to speak. The air was cleaner, the rivers were supposedly cleaner because we had limited our human activities like travel.

Mutile’s entry point into climate and health was through the angle of air pollution and the realization that it was possible to have cleaner air, leading to better respiratory health due to reduced exposure to methane, black carbon, and other pollutants. Alongside this, she also recalls people discussing how a slower lifestyle was benefiting their mental health during the pandemic. The combination of these insights inspired Mutile to explore and address the connection between climate change and people’s physical and mental health.

The value of systems thinking in climate and health programming

I think systems thinking offers tremendous value because the principles of systems thinking ask us to consider the bigger picture and the broader context.

Mutile explains that systems thinking encourages us to uncover the root causes of an issue, ensuring that we address more than just the symptoms. It also emphasizes the importance of the environment and context in which the problem arises. In the context of climate change, applying systems thinking involves asking critical questions: What are the causes? How did those causes emerge? What is the environment—political, economic, social, and geographical—in which these problems manifest? This approach requires examining how all these elements are interconnected, coexist simultaneously, and collectively influence the potential outcomes of an adaptation plan or program.

Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, Mutile explains that a program designed for a high-income country cannot simply be replicated for a low- or middle-income country. Systems thinking allows us to identify the unique dynamics within a specific context, encouraging a more holistic consideration of the actors and factors involved. According to Mutile, this way of working can enable us to transform entire systems rather than addressing isolated components. It also has the potential to create a more harmonized pathway toward achieving meaningful change.

Mutile emphasizes that systems thinking plays a critical role in building resilient communities. At its core, systems thinking relies on collective intelligence and collaboration. For any systems approach to be effective, it is essential to include diverse voices and perspectives, particularly those of the communities most affected by climate change impacts.

Mutile advocates for intentional efforts to include communities in discussions about programs and policies. This inclusion not only cultivates a sense of ownership and agency but also ensures that solutions are rooted in the lived experiences and contextual knowledge of the people they aim to serve. Communities bring valuable insights and ideas about what might work for them, making the co-design of these adaptations essential. According to Mutile, this approach ensures solutions are practical, realistic, and more likely to gain support, ultimately contributing to the longevity and success of these programs.

The importance of collaboration across disciplines and sectors in developing climate adaptations

Mutile believes that recognizing the interconnectedness of disciplines and sectors is a critical first step in addressing complex challenges. She highlights that the current world often operates in silos, a mindset rooted in how education systems divide individuals into distinct tracks—such as science, arts, or commerce—leading to careers confined within those boundaries.

According to Mutile, reality is far more interconnected. Meaningful change requires collaboration across multiple disciplines in areas like climate change and health. She emphasizes the critical roles of professionals such as environmental scientists, urban planners, political scientists, and epidemiologists in shaping policies and solutions. By moving away from siloed thinking and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, she believes we can create more effective and holistic approaches to address global challenges.

What can systems thinkers, designers, and public health organizations do to avoid working in silos?

Mutile highlights systems thinkers, designers, and public health implementers’ role in fostering collaboration. She believes their contributions begin with the simple yet powerful act of initiating dialogue and bringing together diverse actors with varying areas of expertise. Convening these individuals in the same room can help uncover the connections and interrelatedness between their respective fields of work. Mutile suggests that this approach is key to creating a shared understanding and driving more integrated and effective solutions.

Another effective approach, according to Mutile, is to focus on a specific issue that impacts the entire system and help each actor understand their role within it, as well as how their contributions are intertwined with those of others.

Mutile also stresses the importance of grounding these dialogues in real and practical examples rather than relying too heavily on abstract discussions. Using tangible scenarios can make it easier to lay out clear, actionable plans for designing together.

Advocating for youth capacity building in climate and health and why it is important.

Young people will be facing this problem for most of their lives or a longer portion of their lives compared to the older generation, despite not having much say in how it played out historically. So it’s definitely important that they have the skills and competencies to think, research, innovate, and implement actions that might reduce the impacts of climate change on health.

Mutile acknowledges the growing discourse around youth engagement in the climate and health space but highlights a persistent issue: much of it remains tokenistic. She notes that while young people are often invited into decision-making rooms, their presence is frequently reduced to a box-checking exercise. These young individuals rarely have a meaningful influence on critical decisions about their futures.

Instead, Mutile emphasizes the importance of capacity-building through training in research, movement building, and organizing. She highlights that employment is the most direct and impactful way to build capacity. According to her, hands-on experience through job opportunities is unparalleled in developing skills. Providing young people with opportunities to work on programs and projects makes the learning process tangible and equips them with expertise that will serve them throughout their careers.

Mutile has observed resistance from organizations, often led by experienced practitioners, to employing young people due to concerns about their lack of experience. She believes overcoming this hesitation is crucial, as meaningful youth engagement through employment is essential for fostering real growth and preparing the next generation to tackle complex challenges.

One approach Mutile suggests to address this resistance is to encourage older, more experienced practitioners to reflect on their own early career experiences. She urges them to remember when they had little experience but were eager to learn and grow. By acknowledging this universal journey—where everyone starts with limited knowledge and gradually gains expertise—seasoned professionals can develop greater empathy and openness toward younger colleagues.

Moreover, Mutile emphasizes the unique value young people bring. She highlights their energy, idealism, and curiosity, which can introduce fresh perspectives to problem-solving. In particular, when designing solutions for young people, their lived experiences become invaluable.

Three key messages from Mutile to practitioners working at the intersection of climate and health

Mutile believes that the first step in addressing complex challenges is recognizing and understanding the interconnections between different issues. She acknowledges the wealth of research already available on how climate change influences various diseases, ultimately shaping public health outcomes in communities. For instance, studies have examined the links between climate change and diseases such as malaria, cholera, dengue fever, and even mental health. However, she emphasizes the need to expand this understanding beyond immediate health impacts to consider long-term consequences as well. Mutile advocates for a systems approach that takes into account the social, political, economic, and other intersecting dynamics at play. She argues that moving away from linear thinking and embracing complexity and interrelatedness is essential for developing more effective and sustainable solutions.

Her second key message is the importance of keeping people and communities at the core of the work. In development and public health, she observes that the focus often shifts too heavily toward programmatic outputs, sometimes overlooking the fact that real people are directly affected by these issues. Mutile views people and communities as valuable partners who bring deep contextual knowledge and insights into what might work for them. Rather than treating them as mere beneficiaries, she advocates for co-designing and co-implementing programs alongside communities.

Finally, Mutile stresses the critical role of collaboration. She highlights that no single solution or discipline has all the answers. Building networks and communities of practice where individuals can share knowledge, exchange ideas, and learn from diverse perspectives is vital for tackling complex challenges effectively. 

For Mutile, these three principles – understanding interconnections, centering communities, and fostering collaboration – form the foundation of meaningful and impactful work.

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