Role and Selection of Regional Facilitators
Two Regional Facilitators per region are selected by accredited organizations, preferably by means of an electronic nomination and voting process self-organized by accredited organizations or – upon request – by UN Environment whereby accredited organizations are asked to nominate and elect two Regional Facilitators, with attention to gender and sub-regional balance.
These candidates are asked to attend the UNEA, and to have the relevant expertise of the thematic issues to be dealt with at the upcoming session, if the theme is already known. Regional Facilitators must come from organizations accredited to UNEP and ideally be from different sub-regions to ensure a more balanced representation (Latin America and Caribbean for example or South and North Africa, or USA and Canada etc.). They normally serve a minimum two-year term – or until the next election – and participate as observers on the Major Groups Facilitating Committee. Regional Facilitators are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct presented in UNEP’s Stakeholder Engagement Handbook.
They may use the title: “Regional Facilitators of Major Groups and Stakeholders, Name of the Region.” Regional Facilitators play a purely facilitating and expert role and have no mandate to formally represent their region or Major Groups and Stakeholders from their region. They may present agreed positions emerging from Regional Consultative Meetings as well as from other consultation mechanisms developed during their period of mandate. They are specifically selected to ensure agreed Major Groups and Stakeholders’ regional views are presented to UNEA and its subsidiary organs, as well as in other meetings that may be convened. In the absence of positions agreed among Major Groups from a specific region, Regional Facilitators are not entitled to make official statements on behalf of their region.
Regional Facilitators as of December 2024
Africa
REFACOF
Ms. Ndeye Fatou Ndiaye is an active member of the Women Major Group (WMG) working in the environmental field since 2008. She is a chemical waste manager, very passionate about gender issues. For over 15 years, Ndeye Fatou Ndiaye have been involved in impact of hazardous chemical waste/air pollution on Women and Youth. Many of her interventions in the environmental field relate making the Women/ Youth lives more secure despite many challenges. As a WMG Focal Point on UNEA-6 resolution on air quality improvement, Ndeye Fatou followed up this resolution in all contact groups and informal meetings, identified the main priorities of the WMG regarding the resolution until adoption. As the current National Coordinator for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in fostering cross-sectoral collaborations and implementing initiatives aimed at reducing short-lived climate pollutants. This experience has equipped her with the necessary expertise to engage with diverse stakeholders, from government bodies to international partners, in advancing Africa’s environmental agenda. Her ability to navigate complex regional issues, including air quality, climate resilience, and sustainable development, will be instrumental in her role as a Regional Facilitator. Furthermore, her strong communication skills, fluency in both English and French, and familiarity with UNEP’s frameworks and goals position her as a bridge-builder between African nations and global environmental bodies. Ms. Ndiaye’s proven track record, coupled with her dedication to improving climate resilience and environmental sustainability across Africa, will enable facilitate UNEP’s work and ensure the region’s priorities are well represented on the global stage.
Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA)
David N. Munene is the Programs Manager at the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA), a regional network that offers a platform for young people of faith in Africa to respond to the twin challenges of environmental degradation and climate change from a faith perspective through networking and advocacy, formation and awareness creation, and support for local grassroots action. He currently sits at the Board of the Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and is an advisor to the UNEP Faith4Earth Youth Council. David is a YALI (Young African Leaders' Initiative) fellow and served as the first National President of Kenya's Ecosystems-based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA) Chapter. He has been involved in the UNEP and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) processes since 2014 and continues to support the engagement and amplification of the voice of African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and particularly that of African youth.
Asia Pacific
EcoWaste Coalition (EWC – Philippines)
Chinkie Peliño Golle works with the EcoWaste Coalition as regional coordinator of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) for Southeast and East Asia. EcoWaste Coalition is a Philippine-based national network of public interest groups pursuing sustainable solutions to waste and chemical issues. International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) is a global network of public interest and non-profit organizations in 131 countries working to strengthen global and national chemicals and waste policies, contribute to ground-breaking research, and build an international movement for a toxics-free society and future for all.
Chinkie has over 20 years of experience in environmental protection and policy advocacy work at the local, national, and international levels. She has worked with various civil society organizations in advocating for policies and actions on environmental and public health protection and CSOs’ participation in policy development and implementation. She has also been initiating CSOs’ capacity-building and learning sessions as well as regional and global collaborations and partnerships.
Before joining EcoWaste Coalition and IPEN, Chinkie served as executive director of the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), an environmental non-government organization based in Davao City, Philippines, and contributed to the development and implementation of local landmark ordinances and programs promoting environmental protection and restoration by recognizing the role and contribution of local communities and various stakeholders and prioritizing sustainable and long-term solutions.
Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (CECOEDECON), India
Ajay K Jha is the director of CECOEDECON (Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society, India) and has more than 18 years’ experience in the development sector. A lawyer by education and training he is also associated with PAIRVI & MAUSAM (India), Asia Pacific Research Network (Manila) and Asia Pacific Regional CSOs Engagement Mechanism. He has been following and contributing to national and global issues, policies and practices on climate change, SDGs, environment sustainable agriculture and food and human rights.
Europe
European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Belgium
Patrizia has been working as an advocate for global justice at the intersection of environment, human rights and development for 15 years mainly with NGOs in Europe and Asia. As Director for Global Policies and Sustainability at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), she leads the organisation’s work on sustainable development and follows intergovernmental processes at regional and international level. She is part of the Steering Group of SDG Watch Europe and closely follows the implementation of the SDGs in and by the EU. She supervises projects on environmental justice and fighting environmental racism, on the economic transition and on EU enlargement policies. Patrizia holds M.A. in Comparative Literature and Political Science and an LL.M in International Human Rights Law.
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Center for Environmental Consulting and Auditing, National Ecological Center of Ukraine
Ms. Oksana Volosko-Demkiv is a leading environmental consultant in Ukraine and the region, with over 25 years of experience in E&S risk identification and management, monitoring and reporting, and the facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialogues. She has served as an EBRD Regional Environmental & Social Consultant, as well as a Due Diligence EHS Consultant for the IFC/Office of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) - CCAVP. Her key competencies include Due Diligence EHS Assessments, defining effective management measures, ensuring public engagement, and designing action plans.
She holds a master’s degree in Geography from Lviv University (1988) and a Master of Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University, Budapest (1996). As Environmental Policy Advisor for UNDP Ukraine, she facilitated cross-sectoral dialogues and organized the 2003 Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe" in Kyiv. She also advised Ukraine's Ministers of Ecology (2006–2009, 2014). A graduate of the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program (UC Berkeley, 2002) and Stanford's Leadership Academy for Development (2017), she has collaborated with the National Ecological Center of Ukraine since 2013 and completed a Collective Leadership Institute workshop in 2024.
Since 2005, she has successfully managed the company Center for Environmental Consulting and Auditing (www.ceca.org.ua). She conducts strategic planning and monitors the effectiveness of international assistance projects, providing advisory services to NGOs, investors, financial institutions, and both public and private companies. She is currently engaged as a Review Editor in the preparation of UNEP GEO-7.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Xiomara is a prominent Colombian environmentalist, born in Barranquilla. She is the founder and general director of the NGO Barranquilla+20, established in 2012, which focuses on climate activism and environmental education for youth and children in Colombia and other Latin American countries. This organization works on issues related to climate change, biodiversity, and water, engaging more than 7000 youth in its projects.
Xiomara also co-founded the project El Orinoco se adapta in 2014, an initiative that addresses climate change in the Orinoquía region with a gender-based approach. Additionally, she has worked with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) The government of Nariño, the Swedish government, and Colombia's National Government, on climate change, education, gender equality, and human rights policies.
Internationally, she has participated in various of the United Nations Environmental Conventions such as Climate Change, Desertification, Rio+10 & Rio+20, and Biodiversity Convention, where coordinates the Global Youth Biodiversity Network in Colombia, among other conventions. She is an ambassador for One Young World, the Rockefeller Foundation, and more. She also leads the Women for Climate Justice project, focusing on the climate leadership of young women in Colombia. Xiomara holds a degree in international relations from the Universidad del Norte, has studied climate finance at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, and accomplished a master’s degree in leadership and conservation at Cambridge University.
Alejandro Luque is an environmental consultant, advocate and visual communicator, currently studying Environmental Law at Universidad Espíritu Santo. He began his environmental journey at 16, focusing on regional governance, climate change impact, biodiversity challenges, and pollution solutions. He has co-founded and coordinated grassroots movements like "Compromiso Q’umir," "Movimiento de Organizaciones Ambientalistas del Ecuador" (MOAE), and "Fridays for Future Ecuador”, "Ecuador Jóven", "Siembratón & Reciclatón Ecuador", among others.
Since 2019, Alejandro has been involved with the UN system, at the local then regional level. In 2020, he started serving as the Regional LAC Facilitator for the Children and Youth Major Group. His work centres on four pillars: regional governance, youth and civil society participation, science-based environmental policies, and communication.
Alejandro's efforts focus on encouraging people, especially young people, to live more environmentally conscious lives. He also advocates for stronger environmental policies from governments to improve environmental governance and action in Latin America and the Caribbean.
North America
Prof. Medani P. Bhandari, Ph.D., is an International Program Director at the Atlantic States Legal Foundation Inc. (ASLF) in New York, USA. has a multidisciplinary background and specializes in climate resilience and adaptation. Nonprofit management, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, inequality, etc. He is a well-known humanitarian, professor, author, editor, and co-editor of several books and authors of hundreds of scholarly papers on social and environmental sciences, a poet, essayist, environment, social activist, and so on. His field experiences span Asia, Africa, North America, Western Europe, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East. His most recent books are Green Web-II Standards and Perspectives from the IUCN (2018), 2nd Edition 2020, Getting the Climate Science Facts Right The Role of the IPCC; Reducing Inequalities Towards Sustainable Development Goals Multilevel Approach; Educational Transformation, Economic Inequality – Trends, Traps, and Trade-offs; Social Inequality as a Global Challenge; the Unbeatable Challenges of Inequality; Perspectives on Sociological Theories; Methodological Debates and Organizational Sociology; Women and Society; Social Inequality Past, Present, and Future and Live and Let Others Live, in References to Sustainability and Environment, Transforming Future-Community, Governance and Environment, Climate Change and Land Use Change Nexus, etc. In addition to his service at ASLF, he is also remotely serving as a Professor at Akamai University, USA, Sumy State University, Ukraine, and Gandaki University, Nepal. https://www.akamai.university/dr-medani-bhandari-phd.html (Prof. Bhandari is also a Lead Author for Chapter 21, COP 7, Global Environment Outlook Project of UNEP and a member of the taskforces Climate Resilience and Adaptation and Behavior and Social Sciences).
U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC)
Kelly Sheridan serves as the Vice President of Environmental Affairs at the U.S. Dairy Export Council, where she manages engagements with multilateral organizations regarding U.S. dairy’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Prior to joining in 2022, Kelly worked at Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) as the Vice President of Environmental Stewardship. During this time, she was responsible for the overall operations and project management of environmental initiatives, including the U.S. dairy industry’s pursuit of its 2050 Environmental Stewardship Goals and its Net Zero Initiative.
Kelly was the Chief of Staff to the EVP for External Affairs at Corteva Agriscience (a spinoff of the DowDuPont merger). She spent eight years with DuPont, working in a variety of roles within their government affairs department. Kelly previously worked as a U.S. Congressional aide to the House Majority Whip.
Kelly is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainable Food Systems from Arizona State University with an expected completion of 2024. Kelly holds a B.S. in Government with a minor in Economics from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. She currently resides in Connecticut.
West Asia
AlMortaqa Foundation for Development (MFD)
Professor Dr. Eng. Mohammed Alzuhairi is a distinguished academic in materials engineering at the University of Technology, holding a PhD in Chemical Engineering with a focus on petrochemicals. His research spans the recycling of plastic waste, employing catalyst nanotechnology to enhance materials such as asphalt, coatings, and adhesives. He holds patents in corrosion prevention for oil installations and innovative recycling techniques for plastic waste aimed at safeguarding oil equipment and building materials. Dr. Alzuhairi has extensively published in petrochemicals and environmental science, contributing significantly to sustainable practices. As an academic mentor, he supervises numerous MSc and PhD students globally. His expertise is recognized internationally, serving as a reviewer for patents worldwide and recently participating in the GEO-7 review for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Notably, he is an accredited observer for both the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and UNEP, reflecting his influence in global environmental governance. His awards include Saddam's First Prize for academic excellence in chemical engineering, and honors from the League of Arab States and the Arab Council of Excellence for his contributions to training and human development. Dr. Alzuhairi’s work exemplifies leadership in innovation, sustainability, and capacity-building, making him a prominent figure in his field, partner with the University of Granada, Spain in sharing PhD students’ supervisor in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering especially in Environmental issues.
Engineer, Architect, and Advocate for Climate Action
Marie-Therese Merhej Seif, is an architect by profession and a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and climate action. Since 2009, She has served as the Chairman and Executive Director of the Human Environmental Association for Development (HEAD), a role deeply aligned with her commitment to promoting sustainable practices and environmental protection.
Throughout her career, She has been dedicated to advancing environmental policies, advocating for women’s representation in environmental decision-making, and fostering collaboration between civil society and governmental bodies. She began her advocacy journey well before assuming formal roles in various organizations. In 1984, she earned her Master's degree and Postgraduate studies in Architecture from the Lebanese University, driven by a vision to integrate sustainability into urban and architectural planning. Over the years, She further specialized in Green Building, Green Cities, Social Responsibility, Disaster Management, and the Green Economy.
As a leading voice on climate change mitigation and adaptation, She has been a strong advocate for global chemical management and green development across the Arab region, West Asia, and the EU-Mediterranean region. Her leadership and advocacy have been shaped through roles such as UNEP Regional Facilitator for Major Groups & Stakeholders for West Asia (2016-2020), Political Member of the Green Party of Lebanon (GPL), and representing women in the Asia Pacific Green Federation (APGFWN). She has also served as a representative for the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE).
With over 35 years of experience in both political and civil society spheres, Marie-Therese advocated for safe, sustainable, and resilient economic development pathways. She has played an active role as an observer in key international platforms, including the UNFCCC, UNCCD, GNDR, CANAW, RAED, MIO-ECSDE, and IPEN. Her work spans human rights, gender, and youth empowerment, with numerous programs designed to support, mainstream, and empower marginalized communities, particularly women and youth, in addressing climate change challenges.
Marie-Therese remains steadfast in her belief that advocacy and collaborative action are key to creating a better, more sustainable world for future generations.
