Nisreen Elsaim

With degrees in Physics and Renewable Energy, Nisreen has successfully united her scientific background with an impressive résumé of youth engagement and policy work in the realm of sustainable development, both in Sudan and on the international stage. Her leadership potential has been recognized on numerous occasions: she coordinated Youth and Environment Sudan (YES), an umbrella organization for youth-led environmental organisations in Sudan; co-chaired Sudanese Youth Organization on Climate Change (SYOCC), and taken leadership positions in a number of African Conference of Youth (COY) and COP meetings around the world. She is also an active member of the youth support platforms core group, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and Human Rights and Legal Aid Network (HRLAN).

In addition to volunteering for a number of humanitarian and disaster-response organisations, she has been a valuable volunteer for the Sudanese Environment Conservation Society (SECS), where she has been involved in planning, monitoring and evaluation, liaising with stakeholders, and drafting statements. Throughout her early career she has organized and presented an impressive one hundred seminars, workshops and forums on topics relating to sustainable environment and environmental justice. It is safe to say that Nisreen is a highly versatile, competent and skilled individual.

With the JWHI grant, she will do an internship with the Higher Council for Environment in Sudan, where she will work on national strategies and case studies for climate change adaptation in order to learn about policy-making processes in this regard. She will also take a workshop on integrating science into policymaking with many other young scientists and policymakers from throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, where she hopes to not only develop her skills further, but also expand her network in the wider African region. She believes that these experiences will stand her in good stead to take a leadership role in Sudan’s action on climate.