UNCCD’s Dr. Yasmine Fouad Wins the 2025 Nobel Sustainability Medal

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is proud to celebrate a historic moment as its Executive Secretary, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Sustainability Medal by the Nobel Sustainability Trust, one of the world’s most distinguished recognitions for leadership in sustainability.

This honor reflects more than two decades of Dr. Fouad’s contributions to environmental governance, climate resilience, and community-centered development across Africa, the Arab region, and the world. It also underscores the growing international appreciation for the work of the UNCCD, as land restoration, drought resilience, and sustainable livelihoods become increasingly central to global environmental and development agendas.

From the beginning of her career, Dr. Fouad has been driven by a simple but powerful belief: sustainability must begin with people. Her journey has taken her from scientific research in Egypt’s most vulnerable communities, to leading global negotiations, to shaping national environmental policy as Egypt’s Minister of Environment. Throughout this path, she has consistently emphasized that land is not only an ecological asset, but the foundation of human dignity, stability, and opportunity.

Her leadership has always been shaped by her human story as much as her professional achievements. She often recalls a moment at the 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference when one of her sons walked into the negotiation hall, approached the podium, and placed his hands on the gavel as delegates applauded. It was, she says, a reminder that while leaders negotiate for agreements, children negotiate for their future. This intergenerational sense of responsibility continues to define her approach to sustainability and diplomacy.

Today, the world faces unprecedented pressures on land and water. A quarter of the planet’s land is degraded, droughts are intensifying, and millions of people are losing the resources they depend on. Under Dr. Fouad’s leadership, UNCCD has strengthened its efforts to reverse these trends by elevating land restoration as a pathway to resilience, by advancing more inclusive approaches to drought preparedness, and by ensuring that the voices of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and rural communities shape global action.

Her tenure has also ushered in renewed momentum toward key global milestones. The Tafa’ul Process, inspired by the spirit of constructive optimism, is guiding a fresh dialogue on drought resilience. The upcoming COP17 in Mongolia is expected to deepen commitments to land stewardship, particularly as the world observes the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026.

As she accepted the award, Dr. Fouad dedicated it to the women who rebuild their communities in silence, to the young people who refuse to inherit despair, to the workers who transform scarcity into creativity, and to the families who choose hope every day. Her words capture the heart of the UNCCD’s mission: that sustainability is not purely technical work, but work grounded in humanity, in livelihoods, in cultural heritage, and in the right of every person to thrive on healthy, productive land.

Her recognition arrives at a pivotal moment for global environmental action. As the world seeks solutions that are equitable, resilient, and just, Dr. Fouad’s leadership offers a model of diplomacy that is principled, compassionate, and grounded in real-world experience. Her story is a reminder that environmental stewardship is not solely about restoring ecosystems, but about restoring hope and opportunity for communities everywhere.

UNCCD extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Yasmine Fouad for this extraordinary achievement. The Convention looks forward to continuing its work under her guidance as it supports countries and communities in building a more resilient, humane, and sustainable future.