Africa-Press – Gambia. Clean Earth Gambia, a leading non-profit environmental organization, has unveiled an ambitious goal to empower 1,000 female climate leaders across The Gambia by the year 2035.
The announcement came during the launch of the second cohort of the She-Climate Leadership Fellowship, a flagship program focused on developing a new generation of women climate advocates.
The fellowship, a three-month intensive program, is designed to equip young women with the knowledge, mentorship, and practical tools needed to take leadership roles in climate action. This year’s edition is implemented with support from RAFELA The Gambia and the Bloomberg Climate Action Fund.
Speaking at the launch event held at Banjul City Council, Fatou Sunding Bojang, a representative of Clean Earth Gambia, highlighted the transformative impact of the initiative.
“For this second edition, we received 261 applications from driven, passionate women across the country. After a careful selection process, 20 outstanding fellows were chosen to embark on this transformative journey,” she said. “This is not just a training programe it’s an investment in the leadership potential of Gambian women committed to tackling the climate crisis in their communities.”
Bojang noted that the fellowship includes hands-on community engagement, allowing participants to translate their training into tangible local action.
“By equipping women with the skills, knowledge, and support networks they need, we are not only accelerating climate solutions but also promoting gender equality in spaces where critical decisions are made,” she added.
The initiative has already produced promising results. Alumni of the programme have gone on to pursue fully funded master’s degrees in fields such as climate change and environmental journalism, while others are now leading grassroots environmental projects.
“Women and girls are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, yet they are too often excluded from conversations and decisions. When women lead, solutions tend to be more inclusive, effective, and sustainable,” Bojang stressed. “Empowering female leadership is key to building climate-resilient communities.”
She further called on policymakers, institutions, and the private sector to invest more in programs that prioritize women-led climate solutions.
Also speaking at the event was Latirr Carr, a representative of Bloomberg Philanthropies, who emphasized the importance of preparing young people for leadership roles in climate governance.
“One of our country’s greatest challenges today is poor decision making around climate and environmental management,”
Carr said. “We must allow young people to be part of the decision-making process if we truly want to see change. The future of climate leadership belongs to the youth, and we must prepare them now.”
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
