Marie-Josée Houénou has more than eight years’ experience as a legal and environmental consultant. Her work includes drafting Côte d’Ivoire’s first climate change law. Currently, Marie-Josée is city adviser for the government of Abidjan and is helping the city design a climate change plan action. Passionate about enhancing youth capacities, she implemented two local youth conferences on climate change. She reached more than 160,000 people as coordinator of a youth initiative fighting climate change for the Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement Durable (IFDD) and for Green Fund Québec. As a program assistant for an IFDD program on international negotiation, environment, and sustainable development, she assisted francophone negotiators during international negotiations related to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and Biodiversity. Marie-Josée holds master’s degrees in International Environmental Law and in Business Administration. A 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow, Marie-Josée is convinced that environmental issues will bring sustainable opportunities to fight poverty and promote development in Africa. She credits the Fellowship with strengthening her capacities in climate change issues, giving her international exposure, and allowing her to build partnerships with her host university.