Dr. Priscilla M. Achakpa is a renowned Nigerian environmentalist, gender rights advocate, and global voice for sustainable development, with over two decades of leadership in climate policy, environmental governance, and women’s empowerment. She is the Founder and Global President of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP), an international NGO headquartered in Nigeria with consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Under her leadership, WEP has expanded to several countries, becoming a critical platform for gender-responsive environmental action and policy reform.

With a strong academic background in Law and Development Studies, Dr. Achakpa has positioned herself at the intersection of gender, climate change, natural resource management, and sustainable livelihoods. Her work is guided by the principle that environmental justice cannot be achieved without gender justice. She has developed and implemented numerous programs focused on climate finance, water and sanitation, land rights, energy access, and disaster risk reduction—all with a gender-responsive lens.

Dr. Achakpa has represented Nigerian and African civil society at multiple international forums, including UNFCCC negotiations, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), and Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). She has served as a member of the UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholders Advisory Group, where she advocated for inclusive decision-making and the mainstreaming of women’s voices in environmental policy at the global level.

Her influence extends to the design of national and regional climate policies in West Africa, where she has worked with governments, international agencies, and community-based organizations to integrate women’s priorities into adaptation and mitigation strategies. She is also a recognized voice in advancing access to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for local women’s groups and has contributed significantly to the development of frameworks that ensure transparency, accountability, and equity in climate finance.

A recipient of numerous awards and honors for her environmental advocacy and leadership, Dr. Achakpa continues to serve as a mentor, speaker, and advisor on gender-inclusive sustainable development. Her legacy is defined by her unwavering commitment to building a world where environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic justice go hand in hand.

Today, Dr. Priscilla Achakpa remains one of Africa’s most influential voices on climate justice and gender equity—consistently working to ensure that women and marginalized communities are not only included in environmental conversations but are recognized as essential leaders in shaping the planet’s future.