By Elizabeth Nyauchi – APA Fellow, Cohort 2024.
With the world currently facing a rapidly escalating sustainability crisis, a collective effort must be made on a grand scale to bring all sustainability visionaries together at one table to advance the sustainability agenda. Earlier last year, in 2024, I was privileged to join the prestigious APA Sustainability Fellowship Programme, fully aware that I had an unprecedented opportunity to transform the field of sustainability by enhancing my knowledge on the subject and applying it to my background in Fisheries Science, an opportunity I was able to seize thanks to the generosity and support from the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS).
I was an aspiring researcher passionate about sustainable development when I joined the APA Sustainability Fellowship Programme in 2024. However, I lacked the technical skills and connections to expand my knowledge and work.
The APA Sustainability Fellowship Programme has been more than a learning platform—it has been a transformative journey that has reshaped my aspirations and prepared me to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future. For me, this has been a dream come true, quite literally. Throughout the programme, I delved into cross-cutting research areas that expanded my understanding of climate resilience and financing, sustainable resource use, and the intersection of Science and policy.
The APA Sustainability Fellowship Programme has been a defining chapter in my professional journey, equipping me with tools and insights to tackle complex sustainable development challenges. Balancing the online sessions was sometimes difficult, but listening to voices from across Africa was incredibly worthwhile, always motivating me to give my best attention. The highlight for me was the mentorship sessions and the series of online workshops on climate-resilient practices, which inspired me to rethink my activities beyond the fellowship, integrating the knowledge gained with indigenous knowledge into farming systems.
Reflecting on my experience, I realize that the APA Sustainability Fellowship Programme has been transformative and an invaluable support system in advancing my career in fisheries policy. Beyond technical skills, the fellowship has instilled a profound sense of purpose and responsibility to effect change. As the programme ends, I carry a wealth of knowledge and a renewed determination to advocate for solutions that uplift communities and protect the environment. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and excited to apply what I have learned to drive change at the intersection of research and policy. This APA Sustainability Fellowship Programme has significantly shaped my professional journey and strengthened my commitment to creating sustainable solutions for local communities.
Thank you, ACTS Pathways Academy and the Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) Programme, for leading and coordinating discussions on sustainable solutions that holistically protect our planet!
