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Fatou Jeng

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Fatou Jeng
Born (1996-09-30) September 30, 1996 (age 28)
Banjul, The Gambia
EducationUniversity of the Gambia
University of Sussex
OccupationActivist
Known forClimate activism, women's rights activism
AwardsQTV Gambian Youth Dialogue Award 2019,
Women Championing Environmental Rights Award 2023

Fatou Jeng (born September 30, 1996, Banjul, The Gambia) is a Gambian youth climate activist.[1][2] She was named among the 30 most influential young Gambians of 2019.[3]

Personal life

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Fatou Jeng was born on September 30, 1996 in Banjul in The Gambia.[2] She studied at the University of the Gambia, and was the first female president of the university's student union.[3][4][5] Jeng also graduated from the University of Sussex where she obtained a master's degree in environment, development, and policy, and was a recipient of the Chevening scholarship.[6]

She is married to Adama Njie and together they have a son, Muhammed A. Njie.

Activism

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Jeng founded the youth lead and non-profit organization Clean Earth Gambia. The goal of the organization is to create awareness about issues concerning the environment, most importantly climate change. Her organization in partnership with UNICEF Gambia and the Government of the Gambia organized the first national children and youth conference on climate change producing a national climate engagement strategy. They work to teach and train more than 500 school children about climate change, plant over 30,000 trees, as well as address other environmental issues to local communities.[7] [8] [9]

In 2019, she was one of thirty people selected for the first ever UNFCC YOUNGO, the youth delegation to the Climate Negotiations.[10] At the United Nations convention she was a driving force for policy submission on gender and climate change as well as the policy operation lead for Women and Gender. Also in 2019, she helped facilitate youth engagement during Africa Climate week.[11]

She was the QTV Youth Dialogue Gambian Youth of the Month in June 2019 for her climate change advocacy,[12] and described by Whatson Gambia as one of the 30 most influential young Gambians.[3] The UN Country Office in her home country, the Gambia described her as a "trailblazing youth climate activist and a driving force for policy submissions on gender and climate change"[2]

"Women play fundamental roles in local food systems and are carers and activists, which make them uniquely placed to drive longer term climate resilience." Fatou's advocacy for gender inclusion in climate action was pivotal to UK £165 million funding to advance gender equality in climate action, which COP27's President Alok Sharma announced[13] in November 2021.

In December 2020, Jeng was part of a global group of nine women and non-binary activists who published a letter to world leaders on Thomson Reuters Foundation News, entitled "As the Paris Agreement on Climate Change marks five years, urgent action on climate threats is needed now" ("As the Paris Agreement on climate change is already five years old, urgent action is needed now on climate threats"). The international group also included Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Philippines), Belyndar Rikimani (Solomon Islands), Leonie Bremer (Germany), Laura Veronica Muñoz (Colombia), Saoi O'Connor (Ireland), Disha Ravi (India), Hilda Flavia Nakabuye (Uganda) and Sofía Hernández Salazar (Costa Rica).[14]

In 2021, She was recognized as one of the Top 100 Young African Conservation Leaders by the African Alliance of YMCAs, the African Wildlife Fund, and a collection of many more international non-profit organizations. She was also appointed a member of the Soft Power Bowl Club founded by former Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and has been featured in interviews by the UNFCCC,[15] BBC, and the DW.[16][17]

In March 2023, the United Nations' Secretary-General announced Fatou and 6 others[18] as members of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change to provide him with practical and outcome-focused advice, diverse youth perspectives and concrete recommendations, with a clear focus on accelerating the implementation of his climate action agenda. She sits in the Advisory Panel of the United Nations Early Warning System for All Initiative as the Youth Representative in the Panel [19]

In 2023, Jeng participated as a panelist at the Athens Democracy Forum in Athens, Greece.[6]

Awards

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  • QTV Gambian Youth Dialogue Award in June 2019[12]
  • Women Championing Environmental Rights Award in December 2023[20][21]
  • Youngster Award by the Greentech Festival in June 2024 [22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "'We, too, want to be heard,' young African climate champions cry out". The East African. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  2. ^ a b c "From the Streets of Banjul to The Frontlines of COP26 | United Nations in The Gambia". gambia.un.org. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  3. ^ a b c Saja. "The 30 most influential young Gambians of 2019". www.whatson-gambia.com. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  4. ^ "Gambian Women: Role models for fruitful and equal opportunities | Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK". Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  5. ^ "UTG Elects 1st Female President". The Digest. 2018-03-30. Archived from the original on 2020-11-14. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  6. ^ a b Brownell, Ginanne (2023-10-03). "Across Africa, Young Leaders Emerge to Push for Change". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  7. ^ "Meet the eight African women shaping the future of the continent". Landscape News. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  8. ^ Times, The Alkamba (2024-07-14). "Clean Earth Gambia, Partners Hosts First National Children and Youth Climate Change Conference". The Alkamba Times. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  9. ^ "Clean Earth Gambia hosts maiden climate confab - The Point". thepoint.gm. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  10. ^ "SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts" (PDF). Proceedings 8th Economic and Social Council Youth Forum.
  11. ^ "Know More About The First Female President Of The University of the Gambia. | Afrinity Productions". 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  12. ^ a b "YOUTH DIALOGUE 12.06.19". QTV Gambia.
  13. ^ "UK boost to advance gender equality in climate action". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  14. ^ "There's no time left for diplomacy. Now it's time for action". Thomas Reuters Foundation News. December 9, 2020. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  15. ^ Climate Action Studio SB48: Fatou Jeng final, Plant for the Planet initiative, Gambia, 3 May 2018, retrieved 2023-03-17
  16. ^ "Climate strikers are back on the streets – DW – 09/25/2020". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  17. ^ "Fatou Jeng – Founder of Clean Earth Gambia – Soft Power Club" (in Italian). 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  18. ^ "UN announces new advisers to bolster young voices on climate". AP News. 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  19. ^ Nations, United. "The Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change". United Nations. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  20. ^ "Women Championing Environmental Rights" (PDF). Human Rights Recognition Awards 2023 Publication. p. 10.
  21. ^ "Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue on LinkedIn: #hrra2023 #hrra2023 #womenchampioningrights #humanrightsday". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  22. ^ "GREEN AWARDS". GTF Berlin. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
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