A new generation of urban leaders is being mobilised across continents, as the 2026 cohort of the Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF), an initiative of SDSN Youth, brings together 101 emerging changemakers from 81 cities to tackle one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, which is building cities that are inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
Announced this week, the fellowship positions itself at the intersection of global policy ambition and hyper-local execution, with a clear mandate to advance SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The programme is increasingly seen as a strategic talent pipeline feeding into the global urban development ecosystem at a time when Africa’s cities are expanding at unprecedented speed.
“This year, 101 young urban leaders from 81 countries are joining the Local Pathways Fellowship… working to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable,” the fellowship said.
The timing is critical. According to UN projections, Africa’s urban population is expected to double by 2050, with cities like Lagos, Nairobi and Kinshasa absorbing millions of new residents. This demographic surge is placing immense pressure on infrastructure, housing, healthcare systems and environmental resources.
The LPF’s approach, localising global goals through youth-led innovation, aligns with a broader shift in development thinking moving away from top-down policy frameworks toward decentralised, community-driven solutions.
Over the coming months, fellows will engage in intensive learning cycles, peer exchanges and project development aimed at translating global sustainability frameworks into practical, city-level interventions.
Africa at the Centre of the Cohort
Notably, among the 101 global changemakers, 38 of them are Africans. The 2026 cohort reflects Africa’s growing influence in shaping global urban discourse, with a strong representation of fellows driving innovation across sectors including climate resilience, public health, governance, energy systems and digital infrastructure.
Among them:
- Ezdras Ashige (Kampala, Uganda) – an environmental entrepreneur developing eco-friendly construction materials from recycled waste, targeting sustainable building solutions and green job creation.
- Abdullahi Ibrahim Wuse (Kaduna, Nigeria) – a microbiologist and public health researcher focusing on disease prevention and genomic medicine, currently researching hepatitis B prevalence among pregnant women.
- Zuliehat Ohunene Abdullahi (Lagos, Nigeria) – a sustainability researcher advancing climate action and youth-led environmental engagement.
- Ambrose Awany (Lira, Uganda) – a population health specialist integrating reproductive health, climate advocacy and behavioural change models.
- Saad Mohamed Abdi (Hargeisa, Somaliland) – a senior diplomat bridging governance systems, diaspora engagement and institutional development.
- Prince Tsiaterimila Ankaramalaza (Madagascar) – a social entrepreneur driving environmental restoration and youth empowerment through grassroots initiatives.
- Kimberly Kamau (Nairobi, Kenya) – working at the intersection of AI, urban mobility and policy through roles in Book Metro and ATOM AI.
- Godfrey Maina Noel (Nairobi, Kenya) – addressing energy and financial exclusion in informal settlements through community-led systems.
- Miracle Nwosu (Owerri, Nigeria) – founder of Urbanix Smart Cities Solution, empowering young urban planners with digital tools.
- Ismail Bouhaloua (Rabat, Morocco) – an architect specialising in green infrastructure, mobility and climate-resilient planning.
- Mazin AbdelGadir Hassan (Khartoum, Sudan) – a UN Youth Advisor and architect advancing sustainable urban design and youth policy frameworks.
- Eleojo Aduku (Abuja, Nigeria) – advancing climate governance and locally led development across the Global South.
- Antoinette Buah (Accra, Ghana) – a water management scientist focusing on climate resilience, agriculture and solar energy.
- Etinosa Ebomwonyi (Benin City, Nigeria) – a climate advocate driving grassroots environmental action and youth engagement.
- Sonia Ugwunna (Lagos, Nigeria) – founder of NatureFy, delivering urban sustainability projects across 45 communities, reaching over one million young Nigerians.
- Mohsin Baingana (Kampala, Uganda) – building waste management and climate initiatives through policy and entrepreneurship.
- Mercy Cheruiyot (Nairobi, Kenya) – promoting biophilic architecture and green infrastructure in informal settlements.
- Gbemisola Samuel (Abuja, Nigeria) – an architect advancing inclusive, people-centred design and social innovation.
- Promesse Himbaza Agahozo (Rwanda) – an environmental practitioner focused on community-led development and climate action.
- Minda Tesga Hayles (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) – an economist researching food security, energy transitions and macroeconomic systems.
- Badarou Imini Mahaman (Niamey, Niger) – a consultant specialising in GIS-based urban resilience and regional planning.
- Raymond Tetteh Nuertey (Accra, Ghana) – co-founder of DataBloom Africa, equipping youth with data skills for urban innovation.
- Veronica Aggrey (Obuasi, Ghana) – an environmental expert integrating geospatial planning with grassroots sustainability training.
- Isata Sesay (Freetown, Sierra Leone) – a climate justice advocate mobilising youth in environmental protection.
- Ahmed Nafad (Mansoura, Egypt) – a GIS analyst focusing on data-driven local governance and spatial planning.
- Faith Mutonyi Mukhwana (Kampala, Uganda) – championing disability inclusion within sustainable urban development.
- Adejumoke Aremo (Abuja, Nigeria) – an ESG specialist advancing carbon restoration and sustainability systems.
- Daniel Ihimbazwe (Kigali, Rwanda) – promoting youth empowerment and sustainable livelihoods through policy and community action.
- Wahidou Orou Mande (Abomey-Calavi, Benin) – CEO of Bright Innovations, leading renewable energy solutions.
- Nana Abena Yebowaa (Central Region, Ghana) – advancing GIS-based planning within Ghana’s local government systems.
- Maryam Wangeshi (Nairobi, Kenya) – coordinating global climate initiatives and integrating local data into policy frameworks.
- Lorna Kariuki (Nairobi, Kenya) – advocating for climate-resilient mobility and inclusive urban planning.
- Kawthar Salahudeen (Nigeria) – a civic-tech innovator connecting youth to opportunities through legal-tech platforms.
- Shem Redie (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) – working on energy transition strategies and urban waste solutions.
- Emmanuel Akinsanmi (Ekiti, Nigeria) – advancing clean energy adoption through storytelling and youth engagement.
- Munezero Inema (Kigali, Rwanda) – integrating architecture with environmental sustainability.
- Olive Yénoukounmè Hounkponou (Porto-Novo, Benin) – leading large-scale plastic waste reduction and circular economy initiatives.
- Zainab Gambo (Abuja, Nigeria) – founder of EcoValue Recyclers Hub, driving grassroots recycling and environmental education.
From Policy to Practice: Localising Global Goals
At its core, the fellowship seeks to close the disconnect between international frameworks and local implementation, a persistent gap in global development.
Participants are tasked with localising global targets, translating policy into actionable strategies tailored to the realities of their cities. This includes engaging municipal authorities, mobilising communities and designing scalable interventions.
“Through the fellowship, participants will collaborate, exchange knowledge, and strengthen their leadership as they develop ideas and initiatives that address the real challenges facing cities today,” the fellowship added.
Implications for African Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Beyond policy impact, the fellowship underscores the rise of African-led innovation as a driver of global solutions.
From circular-economy startups in Nigeria to AI-enabled urban-mobility platforms in Kenya, the cohort reflects a new entrepreneurial archetype that blends technology, sustainability and social impact.
This aligns with broader investment trends. Venture capital flowing into African climate tech and urban innovation has grown steadily, while development finance institutions are increasingly backing youth-led enterprises capable of delivering scalable solutions.
Crucially, many fellows are not operating in theory, they are already building ventures, influencing policy and deploying solutions at scale.
A Global Network with Local Consequences
As cities become the frontline of climate change, inequality and economic transformation, initiatives like LPF are redefining leadership pipelines prioritising interdisciplinary thinking, grassroots engagement and systems-level innovation.
The 2026 cohort represents a distributed network of urban problem-solvers embedded within some of the world’s most complex and fast-growing cities.
Their success or failure will have implications far beyond their local contexts.
Global challenges increasingly demand local solutions and the Local Pathways Fellowship is betting on a simple premise that the future of cities will be shaped not just in boardrooms and summits, but on the ground by a new generation of leaders already building it.
