The Fellowship aims to connect young Africans to tackle climate challenges in their communities. Through education, hands-on internships, and community projects, the program empowers youth with the skills needed to drive climate action. The Fellowship brings together experts in various fields, covering topics like Climate Science, Food-Energy-Water Systems, Waste Management, Climate Policy, Advocacy, and Project Management. With 628 applications from 32 African countries for its first cohort, the initiative demonstrates the growing demand for youth-focused capacity building on the continent.
Fellowship Ambassador: Mrs. Cynthia Tima Yeboah
To strengthen the media presence of the Fellowship and fill the gap in climate reporting, we are proud to have Mrs. Cynthia Tima Yeboah as our Ambassador. As a passionate climate change advocate and media practitioner, she will help amplify the Fellowship’s impact and raise awareness on climate issues.
Expert Speakers: A Wealth of Knowledge
The Fellowship is honored to have a distinguished panel of speakers who are experts in various climate-related fields.
Inclusivity: Open Access for All
The Fellowship promotes inclusivity and open-access learning. Recordings of all sessions and Fellows’ capstone projects will be available on YouTube as a free resource. This ensures that the knowledge gained through the Fellowship reaches a wider audience, empowering even more young people to take climate action.
Fellowship Outcomes: Knowledge and Skills for Climate Leadership
By the end of the fellowship, participants will have:
- A solid understanding of climate science and its global and regional impacts.
- Knowledge of Food-Energy-Water (FEW) systems and how they can be used for mitigation and adaptation.
- Practical skills in plastic waste management and climate justice.
- Insights into international climate agreements and the role of UNFCCC and COP.
- Expertise in leveraging AI and media for climate communication and advocacy.
- Strong skills in community engagement, project management, and stakeholder relations.
- The ability to design and implement impactful capstone projects.
Fellowship Schedule: A Deep Dive into Climate Solutions
The Fellowship program spans from August 16th to September 28th, 2024, with virtual sessions held between 2-5 pm UTC/GMT (10 am EST). Below is the detailed weekly schedule:
Week 1 (Aug 16): Climate Science
- Introduction to Climate Change Science
- Global and Regional Impacts
- Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
Week 2 (Aug 24): Sustainable Development and Green Economy
- Understanding Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Systems
- Plastic Waste Management
Week 3 (Aug 31): Climate Policy and Governance
- International Climate Agreements
- The Role of UNFCCC and COP
- Climate Justice and Equity
Week 4 (Sept 7): Climate Advocacy and Communication
- Storytelling Techniques for Climate Action
- Leveraging Social Media for Advocacy
- Campaign Planning and Strategies
Week 5 (Sept 14): Community Engagement and Partnership Building
- Principles of Community Engagement
- Building Trust and Relationships
- Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
Week 6 (Sept 21): Project Management and Resource Mobilization
- Project Planning, Execution, and Evaluation
- Setting SMART Goals and Objectives
- Risk Management, Budgeting, and Resource Mobilization
Week 7 (Sept 28): Capstone Project Presentation
- Presenting Capstone Projects developed during the Fellowship
The Fellowship is an essential initiative for building youth capacity in addressing climate change across Africa. By combining education, practical skills, and community action, the program equips the next generation of climate leaders with the tools they need to make a lasting impact. Through this Fellowship, participants not only gain knowledge but also contribute to their communities by driving local climate solutions and advocating for systemic change.
WHAT ARE OUR FELLOWS SAYING?
Modules organized by lecturers seemed to be well put together with little hindrances. Modules where the presenter required more interaction with the fellows were usually less enganging than expected. Dr. Kinter and Dr. Rouleau impacted me the most as under their modules I was able to learn about Climate Science and Policies in general. These proved to be helpful during my capstone project as I found myself going to read their slides for information on certain topics. Overall, I did learn something on project management and the F-E-W (Nexus) systems
Excellent introduction to climate concepts and African context as well as Climate Leadership and Communication - Valuable skills for effective storytelling and stakeholder engagement. With this, my understanding of climate change and it’s impacts and mitigation strategies in Africa has increased.
The modules were captivating, data intense, well curated and relevant to the current context. I enjoyed them all and learnt more from each interaction.
From this fellowship, I emerge as a capacitated programmer in climate change resilience and adaptation, collaborative learning and livelihood incubation. Having learnt much on key aspects around climate communication, I am well empowered to be innovative in community engagement and information dissemination.
All the modules are very insightful.I have learned a lot from expert and from the participants. From this fellowship, I am able to handle climate change situations in my community and to implement some policy regarding climate action.