PANEL SIX: Citizen engagement and citizen science

14th NOV 2023 | 11.30 to 13.00 CET

Description

Citizen engagement is the involvement of citizens in civic processes, such as decision-making, policymaking and community issue resolution. In order to guarantee a society’s capacity to undertake long-term visions and to transform such plans into reality, co-creation and co-implementation are vital. The involvement of citizens not only in socio-political processes but also in the tasks of the monitoring and observation of environmental factors is becoming increasingly recognised as being of great importance both by public administrations and research institutions. However, it is a concept that is often misinterpreted by the very stakeholders who would most benefit from its correct implementation.

Presenter:

  • ANHAM SALYANI, Programme Officer World Water Quality Alliance, United Nations Environnent Programme

Speakers in this session:

  • ODWA MTEMBU, Founder, World Merit South Africa

  • EVANS MWANGI, Project Secretary, Kibera Local Water Forum

  • RIPTOYA ELEMA KANANO, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Move Northern Kenya

  • Dr. LAURENCE COULDRICK, Chief Executive Officer, Westcounty Rivers Trust

  • CHRISTOPHER WAITHAKA, Head of Communication, Komb Green Solutions

Presenter

https://wwqa.info

ANHAM SALYANI

Programme Officer (World Water Quality Alliance), United Nations Environnent Programme

Anham Salyani is an Environmental Geoscience Post-Graduate from the University of Lausanne, showcasing a profound dedication to environmental welfare, wildlife conservation, and sustainability. As a principal coordinator she plays a pivotal role in shaping the World Water Quality Alliance at the United Nations Environmental Programme in Nairobi. Anham’s expertise lies in guiding the development, refinement, and dissemination of critical scientific tools within the Global Environmental Monitoring Systems, focusing on Air, Ocean, and Freshwater domains. With a keen eye for communication strategies and effective outreach, she actively engages with stakeholders, fostering impactful collaborations and advancing environmental initiatives. Before joining the United Nations Ms Salyani held a position at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute.

Speakers

https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-merit-south-africa/?viewAsMember=true

ODWA NTSIKA MTEMBU

Founder, World Merit South Africa

Mr Odwa Ntsika Mtembu, (ONM), is an earth scientist, climate change activist, entrepreneur and a young professional practising in the field of climate change, water and applied geomorphology. For over 10 years, he continues to advocate for youth development, transparency and accountability in his field of practice. He also advocates for community development, capacity building in projects and youth leadership through his work with various local to global stakeholders. Recently, he has been working on ensuring an inclusive and transformed sector (from research to evaluation) especially with respect to stakeholder engagement at grassroots level.
My Quote: My passion and purpose is rooted to my ethical duty to serve my community; not to a political cause to brand my community. – Odwa Ntsika Mtembu.
www.thewatotolibrary.org

EVANS MWANGI

Project Secretary, Kibera Local Water Forum

Evans Mwangi is a long-time community volunteer and passionate environmentalist. He has been on the frontline, championing for the voices of children to be heard as he creates environmental awareness among them. Through his work at The Watoto Library and his active participation in cleaning and monitoring the Nairobi River, he believes his mission is to empower and help facilitate the participation of children, women, and youths in tackling the problem that have led to rivers being turned into dumping sites. He holds a degree in computer science and finds comfort in serving his community.
https://instagram.com/movenorthernkenya?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

RIPTOYA ELEMA KANANO

Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Move Northern Kenya

When I was born my parents, (Mr. and Mrs Kanano ) decided to name me Riptoya which means saviour. Then the clan gave me the name Elema and my father’s name Kanano so I was called Riptoya Elema Kanano.
I was born in Sagana, Kirinyaga County partly raised in Marsabit County, Saku constituency and Nairobi County. Being the first child out of eight, I was able to learn more on leadership from the time I was young. I schooled in Mihang’o primary school till class six then later moved to Highcrest preparatory school where I finished my primary education with grade B+ of 362 marks. Due to my performance I was able to join Ngiriambu girls highschool where I did my KCSE and scored a B (-) minus. When I was young I always wanted to travel, help people and see the outside world and that’s why I chose international relations and Diplomacy as a course because I would be able to serve people, my country Kenya and get to travel as well.
I am currently undertaking my undergraduate degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
When I joined Catholic University of Eastern Africa, I was chosen as the class representative serving 531 students pursuing both International Relations and Diplomacy, Political science and Sociology. I served them for two semesters, then decided to resign and focus on humanitarian works.
Seeing how my mother struggled to raise us as a single mother, I was inspired to start an initiative where we would teach single parents various skills for them to be able to fend for their family, and we also invited psychologists to talk to young ladies who felt unwanted in the society due to early pregnancies. We also donated diapers and clothes for the kids.
I was able to win a Global women peace ambassador award that year as well.
www.wrt.org.uk

Dr. LAURENCE COULDRICK

Chief Executive Officer, Westcountry Rivers Trust

Dr Laurence Couldrick is CEO of the Westcountry Rivers Trust and has been pioneering catchment management through community engagement and empowerment for 20 years. Over that time, he has developed several multi-million pound projects and long term funding streams to deliver improvements across multiple catchments including developing Payments for Ecosystem Service schemes for water quality, flood risk and carbon offsetting and citizen engagement through Citizen Science Investigations. Alongside this he has pushed to explain the complex problems society faces as a way of uniting the myriad of partnerships and interest groups in order to empower communities to take action.

https://g.co/kgs/f7iiW5

CHRISTOPHER WAITHAKA

Head of Communication, Komb Green Solutions

I’m Christopher Waithaka the Head of Communication Komb Green Solutions. I’m Born and Raised in the great expance of Korogocho Slum . Am a landscape by profession and I love Mentoring the upcoming Generations to know the importance of Tackling climate change in the Country.