Fatou Jeng

{{short description|Gambian climate activist}}{{Infobox person

| name = Fatou Jeng

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|09|30}}

| birth_place = Banjul, The Gambia

| education = University of the Gambia
University of Sussex

| occupation = Activist

| organization =

| known_for = Climate activism, women's rights activism

| awards = QTV Gambian Youth Dialogue Award 2019,
Women Championing Environmental Rights Award 2023

}}

Fatou Jeng (born September 30, 1996, Banjul, The Gambia) is a Gambian youth climate activist.{{Cite web|title='We, too, want to be heard,' young African climate champions cry out|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/oped/comment/-we-too-want-to-be-heard-young-african-climate-champions-cry-out-1438298|access-date=2020-08-26|website=The East African|date=5 July 2020 |language=en}} She was named among the 30 most influential young Gambians of 2019. She also made the list of Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30 as a young leader shaping Africa's future.[https://www.forbesafrica.com/under-30/]

Personal life

Fatou Jeng was born on September 30, 1996 in Banjul in The Gambia. She studied at the University of the Gambia, and was the first female president of the university's student union.{{Cite web |title=Gambian Women: Role models for fruitful and equal opportunities {{!}} Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK |url=http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/2020/04/gambian-women-role-models-for-fruitful-and-equal-opportunities/ |access-date=2020-08-26 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-03-30 |title=UTG Elects 1st Female President |url=https://d-infodigest.com/2018/03/30/utg-elects-1st-female-president/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114231527/https://d-infodigest.com/2018/03/30/utg-elects-1st-female-president/ |archive-date=2020-11-14 |access-date=2020-08-26 |website=The Digest |language=en-US}} Jeng also graduated from the University of Sussex where she obtained a master's degree in environment, development, and policy, and was a recipient of the Chevening scholarship.{{Cite news |last=Brownell |first=Ginanne |date=2023-10-03 |title=Across Africa, Young Leaders Emerge to Push for Change |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/world/africa/africa-young-leaders.html |access-date=2024-06-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

She is married to Adama Njie and together they have a son, Muhammed A. Njie.

Activism

Jeng founded the youth lead and non-profit organization Clean Earth Gambia. The goal of the organization is to create awareness about issues concerning the environment, most importantly climate change. Her organization in partnership with UNICEF Gambia and the Government of the Gambia organized the first national children and youth conference on climate change producing a national climate engagement strategy. They work to teach and train more than 500 school children about climate change, plant over 30,000 trees, as well as address other environmental issues to local communities.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-25|title=Meet the eight African women shaping the future of the continent|url=https://news.globallandscapesforum.org/52527/8-african-women-shaping-the-future/|access-date=2021-06-20|website=Landscape News|language=en-US}} {{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Alkamba |date=2024-07-14 |title=Clean Earth Gambia, Partners Hosts First National Children and Youth Climate Change Conference |url=https://alkambatimes.com/clean-earth-gambia-partners-hosts-first-national-children-and-youth-climate-change-conference/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=The Alkamba Times |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |title=Clean Earth Gambia hosts maiden climate confab - The Point |url=https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/national-news/clean-earth-gambia-hosts-maiden-climate-confab |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=thepoint.gm |language=en-US}}

In 2019, she was one of thirty people selected for the first ever UNFCC YOUNGO, the youth delegation to the Climate Negotiations.{{Cite news|title=SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts|work=Proceedings 8th Economic and Social Council Youth Forum|url=https://www.un.org/ecosoc/sites/www.un.org.ecosoc/files/files/en/2019doc/yf2019-SDG13.pdf}} At the United Nations convention she was a driving force for policy submission on gender and climate change as well as the policy operation lead for Women and Gender. Also in 2019, she helped facilitate youth engagement during Africa Climate week.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-07 |title=Know More About The First Female President Of The University of the Gambia. {{!}} Afrinity Productions |url=https://www.afrinitypro.com/know-more-about-the-first-female-president-of-the-university-of-the-gambia/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |language=en-US}}

She was the QTV Youth Dialogue Gambian Youth of the Month in June 2019 for her climate change advocacy,{{Cite news|title=YOUTH DIALOGUE 12.06.19|work=QTV Gambia|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhTLZQw4aLI&t=1094s}} and described by Whatson Gambia as one of the 30 most influential young Gambians.{{Cite web|last=Saja|title=The 30 most influential young Gambians of 2019|url=http://www.whatson-gambia.com/index.php/news/2602-the-30-most-influential-young-gambians-of-2019|access-date=2020-08-26|website=www.whatson-gambia.com|language=en-gb|archive-date=2020-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031043003/http://www.whatson-gambia.com/index.php/news/2602-the-30-most-influential-young-gambians-of-2019|url-status=dead}} The UN Country Office in her home country, the Gambia described her as a "trailblazing youth climate activist and a driving force for policy submissions on gender and climate change"{{Cite web |title=From the Streets of Banjul to The Frontlines of COP26 {{!}} United Nations in The Gambia |url=https://gambia.un.org/en/158517-streets-banjul-frontlines-cop26,%20https://gambia.un.org/en/158517-streets-banjul-frontlines-cop26 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=gambia.un.org |language=en}}

"Women play fundamental roles in local food systems and are carers and activists, which make them uniquely placed to drive longer term climate resilience." Fatou's advocacy for gender inclusion in climate action was pivotal to UK £165 million funding to advance gender equality in climate action, which COP27's President Alok Sharma announced{{Cite web |title=UK boost to advance gender equality in climate action |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-boost-to-advance-gender-equality-in-climate-action |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} in November 2021.

In December 2020, Jeng was part of a global group of nine women and non-binary activists who published a letter to world leaders on Thomson Reuters Foundation News, entitled "As the Paris Agreement on Climate Change marks five years, urgent action on climate threats is needed now" ("As the Paris Agreement on climate change is already five years old, urgent action is needed now on climate threats"). The international group also included Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Philippines), Belyndar Rikimani (Solomon Islands), Leonie Bremer (Germany), Laura Veronica Muñoz (Colombia), Saoi O'Connor (Ireland), Disha Ravi (India), Hilda Flavia Nakabuye (Uganda) and Sofía Hernández Salazar (Costa Rica).{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 9, 2020 |title=There's no time left for diplomacy. Now it's time for action |url=https://news.trust.org/item/20201209175307-2clqf/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Thomas Reuters Foundation News}}

In 2021, She was recognized as one of the Top 100 Young African Conservation Leaders by the African Alliance of YMCAs, the African Wildlife Fund, and a collection of many more international non-profit organizations. She was also appointed a member of the Soft Power Bowl Club founded by former Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and has been featured in interviews by the UNFCCC,{{Citation |title=Climate Action Studio SB48: Fatou Jeng final, Plant for the Planet initiative, Gambia | date=3 May 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41fh9V3y7yA |access-date=2023-03-17 |language=en}} BBC, and the DW.{{Cite web |title=Climate strikers are back on the streets – DW – 09/25/2020 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/climate-change-environment-greta-thunberg-merkel-global-strike-climate-action-luisa-neubauer/a-54618006 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=dw.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=1970-01-01 |title=Fatou Jeng – Founder of Clean Earth Gambia – Soft Power Club |url=https://www.softpowerclub.org/fatou-jeng-founder-of-clean-earth-gambia/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |language=it-IT}}

In March 2023, the United Nations' Secretary-General announced Fatou and 6 others{{Cite web |date=2023-03-16 |title=UN announces new advisers to bolster young voices on climate |url=https://apnews.com/article/youthclimate-changesolutionsactivismunited-nations-d3fae92b21e22bb7ad0eb01de19aabe4 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=AP News |language=en}} as members of his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change to provide him with practical and outcome-focused advice, diverse youth perspectives and concrete recommendations, with a clear focus on accelerating the implementation of his climate action agenda. She sits in the Advisory Panel of the United Nations Early Warning System for All Initiative as the Youth Representative in the Panel {{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |title=The Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change |url=https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action/youth-advisory-group |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=United Nations |language=en}}

In 2023, Jeng participated as a panelist at the Athens Democracy Forum in Athens, Greece.

Awards

QTV Gambian Youth Dialogue Award in June 2019
Women Championing Environmental Rights Award in December 2023{{Cite web |title=Women Championing Environmental Rights |url=https://gchragd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HRRA-Publication-2023.pdf |website=Human Rights Recognition Awards 2023 Publication |page=10}}{{Cite web |title=Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue on LinkedIn: #hrra2023 #hrra2023 #womenchampioningrights #humanrightsday |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/geneva-centre-for-human-rights-advancement-and-global-dialogue-68ab5b14a_hrra2023-hrra2023-womenchampioningrights-activity-7138851678572687361-31CP |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}}
Youngster Award by the Greentech Festival in June 2024 {{Cite web |title=GREEN AWARDS |url=https://greentechfestival.com/awards/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=GTF Berlin |language=en-US}}
Forbes 30 under 30 (2025)[https://www.forbesafrica.com/under-30/]