The Borrowed Earth Project is a non-profit based in Pakistan, the US and the UK, dedicated to providing climate resources for a better future, by focusing on supporting young climate leaders and researchers.

The Pakistan NextGen Climate Fellowship 2026 is a scheme by the Borrowed Earth Project to support two research fellows and one engineering fellow to conduct research on climate issues in Pakistan from July to October 2026. 

In 2023/24, the Borrowed Earth Project funded and mentored two climate research fellows in Pakistan through its Summer Research Fellowship. In 2026 it will support two more researchers, in addition to the new ‘Engineering Fellowship’.

The Climate Research Fellowship is an opportunity for a young Pakistani climate leader and researcher to investigate a climate topic of their interest, conduct fieldwork and write and present a report on this topic, while being mentored by one of the Borrowed Earth team throughout. 

• Month 1 involves developing your chosen topic into a research plan, and planning research in the field in Pakistan to collect primary data. 

• Then in Month 2 you will go into the field, gather data, and analyse it. 

• In Month 3 you will write up your findings into a report and present it at various forums.

The Engineering Fellowship is an opportunity for a young Pakistani engineer or scientific researcher to investigate early warning systems for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Gilgit-Baltistan, while being mentored by one of the Borrowed Earth Project team throughout. 

• Month 1 involves developing a research plan, understanding the problem and undertaking a literature review, and planning research in the field in Pakistan to collect primary data. 

• Then in Month 2 you will go into the field, gather data, and analyse it. 

• In Month 3 you will write up your findings into a report and present it at various forums.

To be selected we want to see that you’ve really thought carefully about your topic of research. 

Your choice should contain three key things: 

1. It should be an urgent climate change topic in Pakistan, ideally with relevance around the world. For instance you could look at specifics topics within climate and education, glacier, extreme heat, climate and health, climate and biodiversity, energy and solar, climate and women… topics that really matter to people in Pakistan and beyond… You can see many areas in the National Climate Change Policy 2021

2. It should be something you really care about. It might be something you’ve experienced, or something that affects your community. Remember, you will have to go into the field, collect data, talk to people affected. 

3. It should be something that you can realistically investigate in the timeframe. You do not have time to write a book! 3 months is a short time for research, so keep your proposal realistic and focussed. 

Yes! 

Mentorship is a critical component of the fellowship, giving fellows that chance to receive in-depth mentorship with climate experts. You will be paired with a mentor who will guide you throughout the research design, fieldwork and production. This is a great opportunity to learn from mentors who have worked in climate action and policy! 

Depending on your topic you will either be paired with: 

William Wilson is Deputy Interim Environmental Assessor for Wales, and previously Principal Lawyer for England’s Office for Environmental Protection. In these roles he has played a key part in making sure environmental laws in the UK are properly implemented. He is an environmental and energy lawyer who has worked in government, private practice and consultancy. He has worked on key environmental laws in the UK, European Union, Middle East and South East Asia. He is the author of Making Environmental Laws Work: Law and Policy in the UK and USA. He is based in the UK. 

Sam Wilson has spent the past five years as an education advisor in the Government of Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. Initially he worked on the Covid-19 response and was lead author of the National Distance Education Strategy which has become a key pillar of the National Economic Transformation Plan, Uraan Pakistan. He was a liason officer between the Ministry and the Development Sector during the 2022 mega-floods which damaged over 26,000 schools. He now works as a consultant leading the strategic communications for the DARE Research Consortium.

For Engineers:

Edward Wilson is Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at TerraPower, working on SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) using nuclear technology. He is a Chartered Engineer with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton, over 7 years of experience in the energy industry, and is a member of the IMechE & ASME

In addition you will receive support from Engineers without Borders - Pakistan - a team of engineers working to build sustainable engineering solutions that equip communities to thrive in Pakistan. 

Yes. 

Fellows will be paid 25,000 PKR per month for 3 months, 75,000 PKR in total.  We know the remuneration is not huge, but it is what we can manage, and we envision the fellow working part-time. 

Fundamentally we are looking for future climate leaders and thinkers in Pakistan, who want some extra support to investigate a critical climate issue they care about. 

We are looking for leaders, thinkers, do-ers - people with energy, enthusiasm and personal drive to make a difference in Pakistan and around the world.  

ESSENTIAL

• Aged between 17 - 26

• A highly motivated young person with a passion for climate action 

• Exceptional academic & work experience working on climate or sustainability projects

• Undertaking or recently completed Bachelor’s or Master’s degree  

• Exceptional quality written and spoken English 

• Have undertaken quality research, with quality research design and written work 

• Ability to work remotely (laptop with good internet connection) 

• Pakistan national, Pakistan-based