Description
Dr. Yasmine S. Fouad is a global sustainability leader and seasoned diplomat with more than 25 years of experience in environmental governance, multilateral environmental agreements, climate diplomacy and sustainable development. She currently serves as United Nations Under‑Secretary‑General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), where she leads the secretariat in advancing land restoration and drought resilience initiatives that improve livelihoods for rural communities worldwide.
Prior to her UN appointment, Dr. Fouad served as Egypt’s Minister of Environment for over six years. In this role she oversaw the country's entire environmental portfolio—including air and water quality, waste management, biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration and climate change—and spearheaded landmark reforms such as the adoption of Egypt’s Climate Change Strategy 2050 and the country’s first Integrated Waste Management Law. She was president of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 14) and served as UNFCCC COP 27 Envoy, successfully leading logistics and stakeholder engagement for these global gatherings.
Dr. Fouad’s expertise spans designing and implementing policy frameworks, mobilising resources, building multi‑stakeholder partnerships and leading high‑profile international negotiations. She has been recognised by Forbes Middle East as a sustainability leader (2023 & 2024) and was awarded the First‑Class Order of Zayed II by the President of the United Arab Emirates for her contributions to climate finance negotiations. Passionate about integrating environmental priorities into national development plans, she advocates for inclusive solutions linking climate change, biodiversity, land degradation and sustainable livelihoods. Most recently, she co‑led negotiations at UNFCCC COP 28, focusing on climate finance and adaptation outcomes.
