Testimonials

The fellowship helped me to better understand the work of UN agencies and multilateral processes, while at the same time deepening my substantive knowledge on climate change topics. It was a key stepping-stone in propelling my career at the UN on climate change issues, giving me the basis to continue my work in UNFCCC in a different role. From UNFCCC, it is my purpose to drive global change by helping governments and other stakeholders agree on how to best address the climate crisis and achieve low-emissions and resilient societies in harmony with nature.

The fellowship broadened my perspective on the interconnectedness of global climate action and the importance of inclusive, multilateral processes. It also deepened my understanding of the role of transparency in building trust and accountability among countries. This experience has reinforced my commitment to equity-driven climate solutions, especially in the Global South. I plan to use the insights and networks gained during the fellowship to strengthen South-South cooperation and support capacity-building efforts across African countries. By promoting inclusive and transparent climate governance, I aim to contribute to more equitable and locally grounded climate solutions that align with global goals while addressing regional priorities.

I now have an in-depth understanding of the global climate policy processes, the challenges and opportunities therein, and the role of various stakeholders. I have leveraged this knowledge to support the work of other UN agencies with climate portfolios and personally designed efforts to bridge the gap between local communities and the global climate policy process, especially in Kenya and Uganda, where I come from. Inspired by the role of research in influencing climate policy, I am now enrolled in a Ph.D. programme focusing on understanding how the interactions between water and climate policy work and will hopefully contribute to the growing landscape of policy and action in this regard.

The fellowship has deepened my appreciation of the complexity of international climate negotiations. My direct involvement in facilitating the policy discussions shifted my perspective on how global agreements rely on thoughtful coordination among diverse perspectives. This experience has strengthened my belief in the importance of collaboration and nuanced diplomacy in addressing climate change effectively. I believe the fellowship prepared me well to collaborate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders across technical and diplomatic levels in an international, diverse, and complex environment.

The Fellowship profoundly shaped my perspectives, especially at reaching consensus at the multilateral negotiations level. Experiencing firsthand how challenging it is for countries and stakeholders to align their values and perspectives and to come to a decision gave me a deeper appreciation of the different intricacies of international cooperation. Looking ahead, I plan to leverage the insights and skills I gained during the fellowship by bridging the gap between global agreements and national and local implementation. My goal is to translate multilateral commitments, such as the NDCs and the ** (04:44) definitely into more concrete actional strategies at national and subnational levels. And I hope, by doing so, it will help empower stakeholders in my region, my country and beyond, to turn ambitious climate goals into real measurable progress.