The Major Groups Facilitating Committee (MGFC) facilitates Major Groups and Stakeholders engagement with UNEP. It is not a decision-making body, but provides guidance and coordinates the engagement of Major Groups with UNEP. It consists of 2 elected members per Major Group and 2 elected Regional Facilitators per region.
Members of the MGFC are expected to adhere to the obligations outlined in UNEP’s Stakeholder Engagement Handbook and to be able to allocate sufficient time to their functions in the MGFC. It is expected that their interventions and actions are based on regular and intensive interaction with their constituency (their respective Major Group). UNEP is not able to provide any financial or other remuneration. Furthermore, MGFC members are expected to:
- Help maximize participation of representatives of its Major Group worldwide in UNEA and its related meetings;
- Promote good representation of Major Groups at the Regional Consultative Meeting (RCM, see below), and ensure that the participants have received the necessary information relating to the agenda beforehand;
- Facilitate the involvement of Major Groups members with specific issue knowledge in UNEP-related work, both in the local, national and regional contexts as well as at UNEA;
- Foster balanced representation on the basis of gender, focus, and region;
- Mobilize knowledgeable representatives of the Major Groups to participate in UNEA and its subsidiary organs;
- Assist participating Major Group members in having access to information related to the agenda for the UNEP meetings; participating fully in UNEA and its related meetings, and having free and unfettered access to delegates;
- Provide general information, training and capacity building on UNEP processes;
- Generate broad media-interest, as well as on-going educational programmes around the world;
- Maintain a web-based information hub, issues-based listservs, as well as general informational sites;
- Disseminate issue-based information from the Major Groups and Stakeholders focusing on these issues, to others not directly involved in those issue-networks; and
- Coordinate the preparation of the Major Groups policy papers.
- The MGFC shall also be responsible for coordinating their activities with the regional level in cooperation with their regional networks, Regional Facilitators and with UNEP’s Secretariat and Regional Offices.
- In particular, each of the Major Groups’ facilitators is encouraged to support the UNEP Secretariat to:
- Foster the participation of their Major Group organizations during the RCMs;
- In regions where their Major Groups are underrepresented, help to identify and involve emerging or newly-established Major Groups in the regional meetings;
- Promote inter-regional exchange and coordination of inputs within their Major Group;
- Facilitate the integration of regional concerns into the Major Groups policy statements; and
- Actively participate in the identification of skilled or specialized presenters or facilitators at meetings as appropriate.
The Chairs of the MGFC organize, with the support of the UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch/Secretary of the Governing Bodies, regular teleconferences that bring together members of the MGFC, Regional Facilitators as observers, UNEP’s MGSB and others as deemed necessary. These teleconferences take place at least once every six weeks. The draft agenda and meeting minutes are page 28 prepared by the Chairpersons of the MGFC. Minutes are distributed by the MGSB among accredited MGS.
During UNEA, the MGFC also organizes a daily morning briefing/debriefing and process meeting, chaired by MGFC members on a rotational basis, to:
- Provide an overview of the official agenda for that day;
- Appoint volunteers to follow critical issues on the agenda who then report back the next day;
- Promote consensus on Major Group representation during the plenaries and other relevant
- sessions;
- Report back to the morning meeting from the discussions held the preceding day, including sharing central and important observations and comments gathered from the UNEA discussions and possibly facilitate consensus-building processes to plan for the day ahead in a strategic manner, including outreach to relevant delegations or other partners;
- Promote discussions on important messages or concerns raised from any of the Major Groups;
- Make announcements and address any other relevant business.
Major groups representatives
Business and Industry
Executive Vice President, Pathways
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Ms Diane B. Holdorf is Executive Vice President (EVP) and a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Diane joined WBCSD in December 2018 as Managing Director of Food and Nature where she led business efforts to accelerate the system transformation in the areas of food, nature and water. In October 2021, Diane took the role of EVP for Pathways.
In her role as EVP, Diane focuses on the Pathways as part of WBCSD’s strategy, leading business efforts to accelerate collaborative solutions in Food and Agriculture, Energy, Products & Materials, Mobility and Built Environment, and Health and Wellbeing – working in partnership to deliver business solutions for the Imperatives and Redefining Value Program pillars. Before joining WBCSD, Diane was Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Kellogg. Prior to joining Kellogg, Diane served as Vice President for Delta Consultants (now Antea), a global environment, health and safety and sustainability consulting firm. During her 17 years with Delta Consultants, she served in numerous management and consulting roles, based in the US and in the UK, where she worked with many consumer-packaged goods, forest products and manufacturing companies in development and implementation of global programs for sustainability, environmental management and risk management.
In 2022 Diane was selected as one of the 25 Badass Women shaping climate action by GreenBiz. In 2015, Diane was recognized as a Maize and Wheat Super Woman by CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) as part of the United Nation’s International Women’s Day. She is also recognized as an Oxfam Sisters on the Planet Ambassador. Diane received a Bachelor’s degrees in Public Communications and in German from Syracuse University. She also completed the Executive MBA Program at the University of St Thomas. Diane is an active Twitter user and cancan be found tweeting at @DianeBHoldorf and on LinkedIn
Secretary General
Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF)
Faisal ALFADL, Secretary-General/ Chief Representative to UN ECOSOC Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) in Consultative Status with the United Nations associated with UNDGC accredited by UNFCCC, UNEP, UNDRR and UNCCD
Faisal ALFADL is an award-winning architect, dedicated volunteer, and community builder, known for his profound contributions to sustainable development. As the Secretary-General of the Saudi Green Building Forum, an influential figure in the architectural community, Faisal's work centers around creating a sustainable future for our planet.
Faisal serves as the Chief Representative to The United Nations ECOSOC on behalf of the Saudi Green Building Forum in Consultative Status with the United Nations. He is an architect and sustainability expert, recognized as an observer by UNDGC, UNEP, and UNFCCC. As the principal of Faisal ALFADL Engineering Consultants based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he collaborates with global partners to provide architectural, engineering, and planning consultancy services. Over his 18-year career, Faisal has designed, supervised, and planned buildings with a construction cost exceeding $8 billion USD. His advocacy for green building and environmental architecture is evident in his extensive portfolio and professional endeavors.
Mr Alfadl's work focuses on promoting green practices and advocating for environmental sustainability. Through his expertise in architecture and his passion for sustainability, Faisal strives to create a positive impact on the global community.
Faisal ALFADL's dedication to sustainable development and his impressive career achievements make him a leading figure in the global architectural community, championing a future where architecture harmonizes with nature for the benefit of all.
Children & Youth
Partnerships for Change
Clive Donnley holds a bachelor’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies with a specialization in Environmental Governance and is certified in International Protocol and Diplomacy. As a Climate Policy Advisor, Clive has a rich background in environmental governance, policy integration, and multilateral cooperation.
In his role with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Initiative (1 Million Youth Action Challenge), Clive has leveraged his expertise to navigate complex international negotiations and foster collaboration across sectors with a focus on SDGs .In his line of work, He has excelled in analyzing and shaping forward-thinking policies that address climate change and promote sustainable resource management, with a central focus on engaging young people in these processes.
He has also been representing the Children and Youth Major Group as a Thematic Policy Advisor in UNEP's Committee of Permanent Representatives by providing CYMG inputs in CPR meetings and other forums including the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme. Previously, Clive has also served as a Youth Climate and Peace Advisor at the Global Peace Building Network Russia, Human Rights Educator at Atlas Movement, and a Rapporteur to the Global Convention of Mayors.
Clive’s career roadmap is dedicated to bridging the gap between environmental science, policy and environmental peacebuilding as he is strongly committed to advancing multilateral cooperation on environmental governance and diplomacy, linked to approaches that support the MEAs and sustainability.
AEGEE European Student Forum
Natalia is a youth advocate from Poland with experience advancing effective, systemic and intergenerationally just solutions to the environmental crises, with a focus on sustainable resource management and just transition.
She has extensive experience in environmental and climate advocacy, having held leadership roles across multiple organizations including as a Board Member at ReGeneration 2030. Prior to being elected as Global Coordinator of the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP, she served on the Global Steering Committee as the Green Economy Thematic Facilitator, where she coordinated youth inputs into the International Resource Panel.
Natalia's professional background is in climate and energy transition policy analysis, climate finance, and organizational strategy. She has worked with public sector institutions, the private sector and nonprofit organizations to develop sustainability strategies in areas including the energy transition, biodiversity and conservation, and emissions reduction pathways.
Natalia holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the London School of Economics and a master’s in development studies from the University of Cambridge.
Farmers
Global Farming Network
Paul Temple is a third generation tenant farmer on a mixed arable and beef farm in the north of England. Wheat is grown for seed, barley for feed alongside break crops of Oilseed Rape, Spring Beans and grass leys. The livestock enterprise is based on 240 suckler cows (cow/calf) grazing environmental grasses with half the offspring fattened and half sold as stores. The farm works to Conservation Agriculture principles and is now into the sixth year of No-till drilling and using livestock manures to enhance soil fertility, sustainability and resilience to weather extremes.
Solutions from the Land
A.G. Kawamura is a third generation produce grower and shipper from Orange County, California. From 2003 to 2010 he served as the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. He is founding co-chair of Solutions from the Land (solutionsfromtheland.org), a nationally recognized non-profit that is developing innovative and sustainable climate smart collaborations for 21st century agriculture. He serves on multiple boards and advisory committees including the Farm Foundation Board; Western Growers Board and former Chair; Ag Advisory Committee for the Chicago Council; Bipartisan Policy Center, Ag & Forestry task force; Southern California Water Coalition, Executive Committee.
For over 40 years Mr. Kawamura has pursued a lifelong goal to work towards an end to hunger and malnutrition. Locally, he is founding chair of Solutions For Urban Ag (SFUA.org). He has worked closely with Regional Food Banks and stakeholders to create exciting urban ag projects that focus on nutrition, hunger, education and advanced food systems. As a progressive farmer, Mr. Kawamura has a lifetime of experience working within the shrinking rural and urban boundaries of Southern California. A.G. graduated with a BA from UC Berkeley and was a member of Class XX of the Calif. Ag Leadership Program.
Indigenous Peoples and their Communities
Society of Native Nations, USA
Frankie Orona is Tongva, Chumash from his mother's family, and Borrado from his father's family. He is a Husband and father of 23 Years. Frankie is the Executive Director of the Society of Native Nations, an intertribal nonprofit NGO dedicated to preserving Indigenous spirituality, culture, and way of life. As an environmental liaison for his Tribal Chief, Anthony Morales of the Gabrielino Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, he tirelessly advocates for environmental justice and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Frankie serves on numerous environmental coalition steering committees and organizational boards nationally and globally. As a member of The Indigenous Peoples Major Group with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a member of the
Indigenous Peoples Caucus, and the Break Free From Plastic U.S. Environmental Justice Delegation, he has been actively working in spaces with the Global Plastics Treaty, Nature Based Solutions, Chemicals of Concern, UNESCO, GE07 and other U.N. frameworks addressing environmental concerns and the Rights of Indigenous People. His mission is to help remind those who have forgotten that we are not separate from the environment but rather an integral part of it and that our health is inextricably linked.
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Nepal
Mr. Prem Singh Tharu is a Tharu Indigenous person from Nepal, has been working with Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) as Environment Programme Officer. He has been continuously engaging in the UNEP & UNEA process since the UN Environment Assembly 3 held in 2017. He has already completed a tenure of regional facilitator of the Asia Pacific to the UNEP. He has been following UNEP process including the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. he is one of the active members of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus to the INC process. He is familiar with the role of the MGFC and has previously served as co-facilitator for the Indigenous Peoples and their communities Major Group and coordinated Indigenous Peoples Organizations accredited to the UNEP’s engagement for the UNEA.
Local Authorities
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
Citizen of France, alumnus of the College of Europe, Jean-Baptiste Buffet has a longstanding experience in urban governance and the implementation of the global development agendas at local level. Since 2009, Jean-Baptiste Buffet coordinates Global Policy and Advocacy at United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the largest world network organisation of cities and regions in the world.
Jean-Baptiste is a graduate of the College of Europe in Bruges, the Institut d’Etudes Politiques of Lille, the University of Kent and the Freie Universität Berlin.
Passionate about urban life, he advocates for a “positive urbanization” and has published number of articles, including on city services delivery and public-private partnerships. He contributed to the book “La Cité des Hommes” with Dominique de Villepin
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Dr. Naidoo is responsible for the strategic direction of ICLEI’s Circular Development work, overseeing key projects, and fostering strategic relationships to bring about sustainable systemic change. Previously, he spent 14 years with the eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, in multiple Departments such as the Energy Office, where he worked on thematic areas such as the Green Economy. He holds a Doctorate of Business from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
NGOs
WELFARE Togo
She is the President and founder of WELFARE Togo. Journalist by profession (youngest female journalist entrepreneur), she is the owner and Director of Media Company ECO CONSCIENCE TV in Togo (thematic media focusing on environment and gender).
Human Right activist, Djatougbe Aziaka holds a Professional Bachelor Degree in Journalism at Institute of Information Sciences, Communication and Arts (ISICA), University of Lomé and a BA in Languages. She has more than 8 years’ experience on social, environmental, gender and cultural, issues working as a journalist (print, radio, TV and social media).
She is also a regular participant in the UNFCCC, UNCCD negotiations and other negotiations under SAICM and BRS Conventions. She served as representative of Africa region in CSO panel of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for the biennial term 2018-2019.
The organization that she leads, WELFARE is involved in capacity building projects in rural communities in which rural people are trained on how to utilize forest and wildlife resources in a sustainable manner. The organization works also for Peace and Good Governance, capacity building of youth, young women, involvement of youth in sustainable development process, decision making.
The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education (COARE)
Christopher Chin is a SCUBA Master Instructor and technical diver whose passion for the ocean stems back to childhood. He is an accomplished underwater videographer and writer whose footage and work have been featured on the Discovery Channel and Shark Week. In 2006, Christopher co-founded The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education (COARE), and and he continues to serve as its Executive Director.
Christopher is an internationally recognized expert in ocean policy and conservation issues, and has authored, supported, and defended a multitude of laws affecting ocean health and resources. He is considered one of North America's foremost experts in shark fin policy, and is a global leader in the fight against plastic pollution. Christopher is an avid advocate for Environmental Justice and co-authored the report "Neglected: Environmental Justice Impacts of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution", published by UNEP in 2021.
Scientific and Technological Community
Central European University
Stephen Stec is a representative of the Science and Technology Major Group. He teaches at Central European University and co-directs the Guta Environmental Law Association. Formerly, Mr. Stec headed the Environmental Law Programme of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, where he helped negotiate and implement several multilateral environmental agreements. With degrees from The Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland School of Law, and CEU, he frequently publishes in the fields of international law and sustainability, environment and security, and corporate accountability, and is the author of UNEP's guide to the Bali Guidelines on Rio Principle 10.
Mohamed Abdelraouf - co-chairs
Environment Research, Gulf Research Center (GRC)
Dr. Mohammed Abdelraouf leads the Gulf Research Center research program on Sustainability and Environmental Issues. He is also a non-resident environmental researcher working with many think tanks in the MENA region and Europe. He was the lead author for UNEP’s GEO-5 and 6 Reports, West Asia chapter on Environmental Governance section. He has published various policy papers on environmental issues in the MENA region and authored five books. Dr. Raouf is a certified trainer in “Water Diplomacy” and “Water footprint Assessment”. He is chair of the Major Groups Facilitating Committee (MGFC) at UNEP representing Science and Tech. Major Group.
Women
Mahiberehiwot for Social Development (MSD)
She has obtained her MA in Global Studies and International relations from New Generation University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and is doing her second Masters in Electoral Policy and Administration (MEPA) at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Italy. She has gotten her first BSc from Arbaminch University in Computer Science. She is Co facilitator for Women major group at UNEP, a member of IUCN Biodiversity & Family Planning Task Force. She is currently Communication and Partnership Manager at Mahiberehiwot for Social Development (MSD). She has 10 years of experience in different sectors mainly in Local and International CSOs. Her area of expertise is not limited to advocacy, human rights and communication works, but also has undeniable capacity in writing articles in different issues mainly in empowering the young generation and women. Her aspiration is to become influential in making affirmative transformations to her country, the region and the globe as a whole.
CEO / Founder, Juventud Unida en Acción
Dalia Fernanda Márquez Añez is a lawyer from Venezuela. She is passionate about defending Human Rights, promoting gender equality, peacebuilding, and is an environmentalist passionate about raising her voice for the defense of the environment. She was a university professor for 7 years at the Faculty of Law of the Universidad Católica del Táchira. She is the founder of the NGO “Juventud Unida en Acción”, an institution in which for 9 years she has been developing education and training programs to empower people as agents of change in their community, empower women, promote the culture of peacebuilding, and developed social programs in vulnerable communities. As activist she has been Regional Facilitator of the Major Groups for Latin America and the Caribbean UNEP, was also Youth Advisor of the TUNZA strategy of the United Nations Environment Program. Dalia is CO-Founder of the Latin American and Caribbean platform LACEMOS a network that seeks to involve civil society in the different global decision-making spaces. In his academic field, she has been part of research groups on Human Rights, gender, environment, and peace, is specialist in commercial law, Human Rights Protection Specialist in the EU, and has a Master degree in Human Rights.
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Africa.
An advocate for climate action, social justice, and sustainable development, Ms Rebecca Okello works as a Programs coordinator at the Central Organization of Trade Unions Kenya under the Climate Change and Just Transition program, COTU-Kenya as a representative of ITUC, focusing on Social justice, Labour rights, Climate Change and Just Transition. Her work emphasizes research, training, and capacity building on climate-related issues, policy advocacy, and the design and implementation of impactful campaigns addressing environmental challenges. Ms Rebecca with nine years’ experience working with the trade union, has actively represented workers and trade unions on various platforms, engaging in policy discussions at both regional and global levels to champion the rights and interests of workers in critical areas, including Just Transition, Green Jobs, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) implementation, and workplace greening initiatives. COTU-Kenya, affiliated with ITUC, plays a vital role in representing millions of workers across the continent. Rebecca holds a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science and is deeply committed to empowering workers' movements and youth in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
Bert De Wel is an ecological economist who has been working on the nexus between social and environmental issues for more than 25 years. He spend 4 years working for an NGO in Chile, worked for the Flemish Environment administration and at the cabinet of environment ministers in Belgium. During nearly ten years he was environment and energy advisor for the Belgian union ACV-CSC. After a short stay with the Just Transition Centre, he became the climate policy officer at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in 2018. In this function, he is the head of the union delegation at the UNFCCC climate negotiations and the focal point for the workers and unions group at UNFCCC, UNEP and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). He participated in the negotiations on the ILO Just Transition Guidelines in 2015 and is member of the International Technical Group at the ILO for the Climate Action for Jobs initiative.
Find out more about the Major Groups Facilitation Committee’s (MGFC) mandate in its Terms of References.
