Fatou Jeng
Fatou Jeng, a Youth Climate Activist hailing from the Gambia, is renowned for her dedication to education, conservation, and tree planting initiatives. In March 2023, she was appointed by the United Nations' Secretary-General as one of seven members of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. This group was tasked with offering practical advice and diverse youth perspectives to expedite the implementation of climate action agendas. Fatou's impact extends internationally, evident in her roles as an organizer of youth climate action events, including the National Youth Conference on Climate Change, her involvement with Plant-for-the-Planet as a country coordinator and global board member, and her contributions to the Friday for Future movement.
Additionally, she established Clean Earth Gambia, a youth-led nonprofit organization aimed at raising awareness about environmental issues, particularly climate change, and educating over 500 school children and local communities on these matters.
Fatou’s influence was highlighted at the 2019 UNFCC YOUNGO, where she was among thirty selected delegates. She played a significant role in advocating for gender-inclusive policies on climate change and spearheaded youth engagement efforts during Africa Climate Week. Her contributions have earned her recognition as the QTV Youth Dialogue Gambian Youth of the Month and placement among the 30 most influential young Gambians by Whatson Gambia.
Her advocacy for gender inclusion in climate action led to significant strides, including the UK's £165 million funding commitment to advance gender equality in climate action, announced by COP27's President Alok Sharma in November 2021.
Furthermore, Fatou’s dedication to conservation earned her recognition as one of the Top 100 Young African Conservation Leaders by various international nonprofit organizations. She has been featured in interviews by prominent platforms such as the UNFCCC, BBC, and DW.
