ISSUE 48/DEC2022 - Flipbook - Page 60
Africa’s Most Influential Women | EVERYDAY HEROES
Dr. Jacqueline Uku
KENYA
President: Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
SCIENCE & TECH: Marine Scientist
A leading continental marine scientist,
conservation champion and mentor serving as
President of the Western Indian Ocean Marine
Science Association (WIOMSA).
Dr Jacqueline is a Senior Research Scientist at the
Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)
and the recipient of the NK Panniker Award for
capacity building from the IOC-UNESCO General
Assembly.
Her day job away from rallying ocean awareness
including coastal conservation focuses on
the assessment of seagrass blue carbon and
restoration as a source of benefits to communities
and the use of Environmental DNA for biodiversity
assessments.
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Ineza Umuhumoza Grace
RWANDA
Co-founder: Loss and Damage Youth Coalition
CIVIL SOCIETY & ACTIVISM: Climate Justice
Ineza is a co-founder of the Loss and Damage
Youth Coalition, an alliance of 400 plus youth from
more than 40 countries advocating and taking
concrete action in addressing loss and damage, as
well as seeking climate finance as compensation
to developing countries for bearing the heavy
burden of climate change. The eco-activist is also
founder of the Green Fighter, a youth centre that
fosters dialogue on climate change and promotes
climate solutions and resilience. As lead author
of a recently published brief by Plan International
titled “From the Frontlines: Youth call for action
to address loss and damage caused by climate
change”, Ineza wrote:
“Climate justice will be achieved only if we address
loss and damage critically and systematically.
Otherwise, we are going to lose our planet and
communities. Let us act now together in solidarity
for today’s children and youth and for future
generations...The duty to act could not be more
urgent.”
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60 l
New African Woman
l Dec 2022