Chair of the H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma foundation, Initiator and leader of the Initiative MAMA-LIGHT® for Sustainable Energy, Initiator and leader of “The Mutirão and Burkindi Coalition Capacity Building Initiative” and Co-Chair of the UNFCCC Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB)
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma is a Mossi Princess from Burkina Faso and a leading representative of the traditional authorities in Africa. She is the Initiator and Leader of the MAMA-LIGHT® Initiative for Sustainable Energy distinguished by the UNGA 2015 one of the 14 breakthrough solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. She brings over 30 years of professional experience including climate diplomacy, interacting with Head of Delegations, rural development and working with local communities as well as with the United Nations ecosystem, UNGA. She is internationally recognized as a role model for empowerment of the less fortunate, for recognizing the importance of the informal sector and for unleashing the potential of women and youth in developing countries.
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma is a strong leader and an experienced senior negotiator. She is an Expert for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the Chair of the International jury of the UNESCO-Japan Prize on ESD. She is involved in Climate related negotiations over 20 years, including the Senday Framework, as well as COP’s.
She is the current Co-Chair of the Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB) under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, she represents the Least Developed Countries (LDC’s). She has been the coordinator for Adaptation Committee on behalf of the G77 and China (representing 134 countries over 5 billion people) and she is the LDC Coordinator on Just Transition.
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma is leading “The Mutirão and Burkindi Coalition Capacity Building Initiative” of the PCCB adopted by the COP30 which delivers through two integrated tracks: Adaptation and the Just Transition Work Program and contributes to achieving the Paris Climate Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals by connecting the minds, people, solutions, eradicating poverty for resilient communities: Bottom-up/top-down nexus approaches creating the future we want in and within local communities.
She is a frequent speaker and facilitator at international and business conferences. She has a broad international network at decision making level and is appreciated by parties in her co-facilitator role guiding them during their negotiation building trust, consensus to find landing zones. Her skills for mentoring, coaching and training are deeply recognized by youth, women and senior managers.
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma got awarded the honorary Degree of Doctor for her contribution to the Advancement of Science and Culture from the University of Okayama Japan, in recognition of her distinguished leadership and contribution to a just, peaceful and inclusive society through the empowerment of women and youth, as well as extraordinary works and achievements at a local, national and international levels on education for sustainable development (ESD) and Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information see www.princess-abze.org