Congratulations #AWFWallFellows Class of 2025!
Today, we celebrate the graduation of the AWF-Wall Youth Leadership Program Class of 2025. This cohort, comprising 16 Policy Fellows and 14 Leadership and Management Fellows from 21 countries, joins a distinguished network of 108 alumni equipped to enact transformative change across Africa.
In their keynote addresses, @AWF_Official's Charly Facheux and @UNEP_Africa's Levis Kavagi emphasized that today is merely the beginning of a lifelong journey to implement the rigorous lessons learned over this nine-month period. During heartfelt reflections, fellows described the program as both exhilarating and challenging, and promised to uphold what they learnt in their respective fellowships.
Special recognition was given to two "Fellows of the Year", one from each track, whose words of encouragement underscored the profound sense of community this program upholds. We look forward to seeing these vibrant leaders shape the continentβs future.
#AWFWallFellows #YouthLeadership
Nancy Barisoa @nancybarisoa, an environmental expert from #Madagascarπ²π¬, is at #CRIC23 as a @theGEF-sponsored youth delegate. In her GEF Voices interview, she shares lessons from elevating youth priorities through training, storytelling, and learning. https://t.co/vaIa2H8WiE
ππππππππππ ππ πππ ππππππππππππ!
Today, as #Tanzania marks its Independence Day and the world commemorates International Human Rights Defenders Day, we stand alongside women human rights defenders and communities who are mourning their dead, searching for the disappeared, and refusing to be silenced.
The African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders (@whrdinitiative), together with WHRDs, social movements, and civil society across Africa, has issued this statement:
βRepression Is Not Independence: Women Defenders Speak Out on Tanzania.β
We name the violence.
We name the gendered targeting of women defenders.
We name the legal architecture that shields power from accountability.
And we set out clear WHRD-centred demands for safety, justice, dignity, and structural change.
π Read & share the full statement (attached).
Because independence cannot be celebrated while streets run with blood and women defenders are punished for imagining a different future.
#WomenHumanRightsDefenders #WHRDs #CivicSpace #HumanRights #16DaysOfActivism #WeAreWHRDs #SafeguardWHRDs
@UN_HRC@MaryLawlorhrds@Ginitastar@achpr_cadhp@africanngos@CIVICUSMonitor@omctorg@FrontLineHRD@WHRDSomalia@AfricanWHRD@WHRDhub@X@TheChanzo@CPJAfrica@MariaSTsehai@AgoraCFR@ACTSA_UK@ohchr_sa @OHCHR_EARO @SADC_News @
Community Highlight!
From September 23β25, our Africa Regional Focal Point, @nancybarisoa participated in a national policy dialogue in Antananarivo, Madagascar, organized by the African Forest Forum and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
During the meeting, Nancy met with Madagascarβs @UNCCD National Focal Point to help shape youth contributions ahead of UNCCD #CRIC23 in Panama this December.
#Youth4Land #OurLandOurFuture #YouthAction #UNited4Land
Community Highlight!
At the just-ended UNEP 2025 Africa Regional Consultative Youth Day, our Regional Focal Point @nancybarisoa delivered youth priorities & helped shape a unified African statement for the COPs.
She also joined a powerful dialogue with Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, reflecting on 40 years of leadership & youth empowerment.
#Youth4Land #OurLandOurFuture #UNited4Land
As the world observes Human Rights Day on 10 December, Africa faces rising human rights violations. @Pais_Mary, Human Rights Defender, Attorney, a& Co-Founder @whrdinitiative, joins @PeterNdoro a& @AurelieKalenga to discuss the threats & challenges on the continent
#RiseandShine
Ready to see how Africaβs young visionaries are leading the charge for restoration?
Join us at #COP16Riyadh!
π· 9 Dec 2024 | π· 9:00β10:00 AM (Riyadh)
π· Restoration Pavilion | π· Donβt miss this engaging discussion, and enjoy light snacks and coffee while you're inspired!
π Mark your calendars! In just 2 weeks, the world will be in Riyadh for @COP16Riyadh.
π High-level dialogues. π‘ Bold ideas. π± Transformative actions.
Check out the program: https://t.co/2uxX7TymAs and join us! #UNited4Land
The Youth and Social Justice projectβs Anticipation Summit takes place tomorrow where youth-led changemakers will map bold, positive futures for youth across East and Southern Africa.
The project is led by SAIIAβs Futures and @Youth_SAIIA Programmes, the Centre for Sustainability Transitions and the @theberthacentre with support from the @IDRC_CRDI.
#futuresplanning #anticipatorygovernance #foresight #youthfutures #socialjustice
π¨ WE'RE LIVE! π¨ The 7th GLF Investment Case Symposium has officially kicked off!
Donβt miss your chance to explore bold finance solutions for biodiversity and connect with global changemakers.
π JOIN US NOW: https://t.co/OARGSD0SQq
Destroying nature means harming our health, our climate, aggravating social inequalities and our economies.
At #COP16Cololombia starting today, governments must make bold commitments to protect #biodiversity and all that depends on it.
Water security and land health go hand in hand. At #COP16Riyadh, weβre working on solutions to address both. Together, we can combat water scarcity and protect our most precious resourceβland.β
#UNCCDCOP16#OurLandOurFuture
Today, the COP29 Presidency published the final texts of nine Declarations and Pledges as part of its Action Agenda for the upcoming UN climate summit in Baku this November. These documents provide pathways for all global actors to come together and commit to enhanced ambition across key climate priorities.
For more info: https://t.co/IArx8RO7ly
#COP29 #COP29Azerbaijan