Building Climate-Resilient Communities
Why This Matters
The climate crisis is intensifying globally, disproportionately affecting marginalized and vulnerable communities. Addressing these challenges demands a collaborative, community-driven approach integrating education, technology, advocacy, and policy. Countries such as Chile and Kenya are rising to the challenge by implementing innovative solutions that promote sustainability and foster resilience within local communities.
The Nairobi Center will host speakers from diverse backgrounds, from Chile to Kenya, who lead and manage global climate resilience initiatives. They’ll share what’s working, what’s challenging, and why youth engagement and cross-sector partnerships matter more than ever.
What You’ll Learn
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How local partnerships can enhance climate resilience and disaster preparedness
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What makes sustainable farming key to resilient communities
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Why storytelling is powerful in climate action
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How does youth engagement shape climate solutions and policy
Panelists
Antonia Samur is a Senior Staff Associate I. Her role at NCDP includes conducting research and managing initiatives to support disaster planning, climate adaptation and community resilience.
Antonia currently manages a 2-year initiative focused on capacity building and participatory planning for climate adaptation. The project is supporting 3 local governments in Chile develop and implement Local Climate Action Plans in alignment with Chile's Climate Change Framework Law (2022). The project aims to mainstream climate adaptation into other sector and local development plans, and integrate adaptation with disaster risk reduction.
Antonia also manages a three-year capacity-building initiative for the child-care sector in Puerto Rico, aiming to enhance institutional preparedness to meet the needs of children in disasters. Under this initiative, she led the development of a training curriculum and delivered training. She also teaches about community engagement in disaster management in the MA in Climate and Society at the Columbia Climate School.
Before NCDP, Antonia worked for the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), where she led a global sustainable development education program, and for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), where she conducted research and policy analysis on social and economic development issues, including childhood poverty and sustainable development in Latin America.
She holds a dual Master’s degree in International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University and the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chile.
Antonia is keenly interested in climate change adaptation, community engagement, participatory planning and public policy, applied research, and education.
Leah Adhiambo is a passionate environmental steward and agribusiness professional committed to sustainable development and climate action. Her degree in Agribusiness Management equips her with the technical and strategic knowledge to drive change at the intersection of agriculture, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability.
Leah was a Nairobi Climate Action Plan 2020/2021 member, contributing her voice and insights toward shaping inclusive, youth-informed climate policies. In her capacity as a youth leader with the Hearts of Green Organization, she has been at the forefront of grassroots environmental campaigns—mobilizing young people to adopt eco-friendly practices and driving community-based conservation initiatives.
As an agribusiness professional, Leah blends her academic training with environmental values. She champions climate-smart farming techniques, soil health management, and eco-conscious infrastructure, such as solar-powered greenhouses and sustainable water-use systems. Her work empowers farmers to adapt to climate change while restoring ecosystems and promoting food security.
Leah continues to advocate for climate justice and sustainable agriculture in Kenya and beyond. Her leadership in environmental action and agribusiness innovation makes her a unique and inspiring presence in today’s climate dialogue.
Joshua Kimani is a passionate Kenyan legal scholar and environmental advocate. He holds a Bachelor of Laws(LLB) degree and currently serves as the General Secretary of the Youth of the Orthodox Church of Kenya. He is also the Head of Legal Research in one of the leading law firms in Nairobi. Joshua is deeply committed to youth empowerment, interfaith collaboration, and climate justice and has led numerous initiatives at both national and international levels. He is also presently employed by an organization dedicated to rescuing young women and girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) resulting from climate-induced hardships.
Rukia Ahmed is a passionate youth climate justice advocate,a teacher, and the founder and Executive Director of the Green North Eastern Initiative, a grassroots youth-led organization driving climate action in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands. Raised in Wajir, a region heavily affected by climate change, and starting her journey at just 16, Rukia has spent over six years championing environmental justice, climate adaptation, and community resilience. She leads transformative projects that blend ecological restoration with community resilience and actively engages in national dialogues on climate adaptation finance and youth participation in NDCs. Inspired by Wangari Maathai’s hummingbird story, Rukia continues to “do her part” in building a greener, more resilient future for vulnerable communities in North Eastern Kenya.
Moderator
Alexandra Hussey is from Portland, Oregon, where she was instilled with the values of outdoor education and environmental protection. Alexandra pursued her studies at Wellesley College, majoring in International Relations and Political Science with a Teaching Certification in Upper School History. During her undergraduate studies, she advocated for Wellesley College to divest from fossil fuels, researched bioluminescent plankton in Puerto Rico, and interned with the Faith for Earth Coalition at the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi. Over the past year, she has served as an English teacher in Bangkok. She is currently enrolled in the Global Thought program, where she is researching how education systems recover after experiencing climate-related disasters. Alexandra enjoys hiking, scuba diving, and painting in her leisure time.