“Youth can play a key role in mobilizing climate finance and in nudging governments to fulfil their climate finance commitments,” said Dora Cudjoe, Stakeholder Engagement Program Lead at the Climate Investment Funds, during her closing remarks for the very first CIF Youth Fellows induction program, held in Accra, Ghana. The seven CIF Youth Fellows, selected from a pool of more than 3,000 applicants, have started working on CIF-financed projects for 12-month assignments at multilateral development banks (MDBs) and came together for a five-day intensive session in October 2023.
The induction program, co-hosted by CIF, the World Bank Accra office and the Ghana Climate Innovation Center (GCIC), featured more than 20 speakers and partners representing academia, MDBs, the private sector and United Nations agencies, including Marija Vasileva-Blazev, a Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and Lindani Zungu, COP28 United Arab Emirates Youth Delegate. Strategic sessions covered a range of relevant concepts such as climate resilience, clean energy, the impact of climate on development, monitoring and evaluation, and additional cross-sectoral topics. Activities during the week not only deepened Fellows’ understanding of climate finance and climate action issues but also provided them with the necessary tools and knowledge to make a meaningful contribution in their respective assignments.
One of the highlights was a site visit to two remote island communities in the Kete Krachi district in Ghana's Lake Volta Oti region. After an eight-hour road trip from Accra, the group took a ferry across the Oti River followed by small boat ride on Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world. In Atigagome, the Fellows observed the impact that mini grids implemented by MDBs are having on the community. The community told them that, with better lighting at home, children are now able to study in the evening, leading to better education outcomes. Access to energy through the mini grids also allowed this community to access irrigation from water pumps. This has resulted in a boost in the agricultural sector with significant improvement in crop yields and year-round access to food.
The visit to the village of Lala was equally inspiring. There, the group learned about the upcoming CIF-financed Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) project. The project aims to support the community’s transition to climate-proof mini grid solar systems to create job opportunities and improve socio-economic outcomes.
The opportunity to observe and understand CIF’s impact in rural Ghana had a deep influence on CIF Fellows. This was articulated by Jamaica’s Renée Cooper, who works with IDB: “This event put all the information that I had previously about climate finance and new information into perspective. The theory knowledge that I gained was shown to me in real-life during our trip to the islands in Lake Volta,” she said. This was further reinforced by Thailand’s Pawattapum Charoensuk, who joined ADB. He noted that “most of development works happen on the ground and those who receive the most benefits are local communities and Indigenous peoples.”
The CIF Youth Fellowship effectively supports young people as they pioneer climate action. This was echoed by Tunisia’s Wissem Jouadi, who works with IFC, “Firstly, I gained a deeper understanding of the MDBs roles and objectives, allowing me to better align my contributions with the IFC mission. Secondly, I recognized the importance of building connections with my counterpart fellows, as networking and collaboration with like-minded individuals can provide valuable insights and broaden my understanding. The event highlighted the significance of fostering enthusiasm for personal growth and development.” The induction week built on the Fellows’ collective passion to make a difference, set them on a solid path to success and fostered a sense of community. Reflecting on this, Thailand CIF Fellow Thanakon Sukuman, from ADB, wrote: “Even as we prepared to part ways, we playfully discussed our next rendezvous. Whether it's Bali, Indonesia, or Istanbul, Turkey, it's evident — our CIF bond runs deep.”