Moroccan Ayman Cherkaoui Elected Regional Facilitator for the NGOs of Africa Group at UNEP

Nairobi – Ayman Cherkaoui, who works at the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, has been elected as the new regional facilitator for NGOs of the Africa group at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), following an electronic vote for the election of two candidates.

Cherkaoui, who was in competition with 15 other candidates, came second with 19 votes behind Ugandan Gertrude Kenyangi, who represents the Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment NGO (SWAGEN).

Cherkaoui told MAP he was “very honored” to have been elected, welcoming the voters’ confidence, “a trust based on the deep appreciation of the African civil society for the environmental commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco, of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection and of all the Moroccan civil society”.

He added that Morocco’s environmental commitment is in line with HM King Mohammed VI’s Vision for Sustainable Development in Africa, adding that the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, Chairwoman of the Mohammed Foundation VI for Environmental Protection, is a fundamental lever for the implementation of the Royal vision.

Two Regional Facilitators per region are selected by accredited organizations, preferably by means of an electronic nomination and voting process self-organized by accredited organizations or – upon request – by UN Environment whereby accredited organizations are asked to nominate and elect two Regional Facilitators, with attention to gender and sub-regional balance.

These candidates are asked to attend the UN Environment Assembly, and to have the relevant expertise of the thematic issues to be dealt with at the upcoming session, if the theme is already known. Regional Facilitators must come from organizations accredited to UNEP and ideally be from different sub-regions to ensure a more balanced representation (Latin America and Caribbean for example or South and North Africa, or USA and Canada etc.). They normally serve a minimum two-year term – or until the next election – and participate as observers on the Major Groups Facilitating Committee.