Local Pathways Fellowship Graduates 2025

A year ago, 100 passionate, urban-minded young leaders representing 25 countries and 96 cities were selected from a pool of 1,469 applicants to join the Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF). LPF is a 10-month training program that equips emerging urban leaders with the tools, networks, and support needed to advance local problem-solving for sustainable development. Each year, fellows develop practical, place-based solutions aligned with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Over the last 10 months, fellows completed the Sustainable Cities course developed by Aromar Revi, connected through LPF monthly webinars with representatives from ICLEI Europe, Fourth Economy, and the Institute for Humane Education, and engaged in the LPF mentorship program. Fellows also participated in major convenings, including the Global Youth Climate Conference, ECOSOC 2025, and the ECOSOC Partnership Forum.

“It’s been thrilling and deeply inspiring to witness this cohort’s commitment to building solutions that start exactly where they are—within their communities, cities, and institutions. From waste management and gendered mobility to sustainable housing, they have spent the past 10 months moving from vision to delivery: refining their problem statements, grounding their ideas in local realities, engaging stakeholders, and transforming bold concepts into social impact projects that pilot tangible solutions in their communities.”

— Nnaemeka Phil Eke-Okocha, Project Lead, Local Pathways Fellowship

Success stories from the 2025 cohort

We’re proud to share a few highlights from this year’s fellows:

Jira Trinetkamol (Bangkok, Thailand) is addressing Bangkok’s escalating traffic and congestion crisis through an integrated approach that combines evidence generation, on-the-ground interventions, and policy development. Over time, the project aims to contribute to cleaner air, fairer access to economic opportunity, and a more efficient urban transport system.

Namalwa Silva Mgunda (Kenya) is tackling environmental degradation caused by vehicular waste along key transport corridors—particularly the Maai-Mahiu–Narok–Bomet highway—where littering threatens fragile ecosystems, wildlife corridors, and nearby communities. The project responds through a dual approach that bridges policy, technology, and public awareness.

Qi Hang Chen (Singapore) led “Towards a Circular Singapore: Advancing Inclusive Waste Management and Resource Recovery,” responding to growing urban climate risks driven by rising temperatures, heavier rainfall, and resource constraints. The initiative develops a neighbourhood-level urban resilience platform integrating data, community engagement, and targeted interventions to strengthen both adaptation and mitigation—supporting more equitable sustainability outcomes and advancing SDG.

Meet the 2025 Local Pathways Fellowship graduates

The 2025 cohort represents cities across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. Please join us in congratulating the following fellows:

Ade Brian Mustafa — Rangkasbitung, Jakarta, Indonesia

Akshat Chadha — Delhi, India

Amrita Patkar — Mumbai, India

Andres Maglione — Naples, Italy

Komang Ardhinata Bawa — Denpasar, Indonesia

Arushi Shukla — London, United Kingdom

Anenyah Venkatesan — Chennai, India

Ashita Gupta — Plymouth, United Kingdom

Chilufya Theresa Mulenga — Lusaka, Zambia

Caleb Isoe — Nairobi City, Kenya

Edwin Lai — Sydney, Australia

Farhan Samatar — Nairobi, Kenya

Gelene Lamarroza — Quezon City, Philippines

Hanu Priya Indiran — Cambridge, United Kingdom

Harvey Asuncion — Manila, Philippines

Henrique Borges — Brasília, Brazil

Hyungkyung Seo — New York, USA

Jonë Morina — Prishtinë, Kosova

Joshua Rosero — Quito, Ecuador

Jira Trinetkamol — Bangkok, Thailand

Judith Mwangi — Nairobi, Kenya

Kim Jessica Wahnke — Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Lamis Elkhatieb — Colchester, United Kingdom / Cairo, Egypt

Lou Lerren Curacha — Windisch, Switzerland

Linah Eltahir — Durham, USA

Luis Matos — (City/Country not listed)

Marina Gavrilaki — Athens, Greece

Merna Alzurikat — Zarqa, Jordan

Saif Muhammad Shah — Karachi, Pakistan

Monibullah Yaqubi — Istanbul, Turkey

Ian Ngugi — Kutus, Kenya

Nkandu Mukutu — Chongwe, Zambia

Kingsley Chinecherem Omeje — Calgary, Canada

Ijeoma Nwigwe — Abuja, Nigeria

Qi Hang Chen — Singapore, Singapore

Ragina Gitau — Stuttgart, Germany

Pratham Rathi — Bengaluru, India

Edith Rosasi — Dortmund, Germany

Rowena Shivam — London, United Kingdom

Rovimbo Mutasa — Johannesburg, South Africa

Salumu Dominic — Lodwar, Kenya

Samidhaa Kambli — Atlanta, USA

Shannon Chow — Vancouver, Canada

Shruti Shah — Singapore, Singapore

Silva Namalwa — Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Silvia Gazzola — Milan, Italy

Soffiyah Sanni — Lagos, Nigeria

Sudhanshu Ojha — Bangalore, India

Umaima Ahmed — Islamabad, Pakistan

Varsha Samudra (Vivek) — Thrissur, India

Yussif Sulemana — Paris, France

Looking ahead

As they move forward, the 2025 graduates join a global community of LPF alumni shaping policy, leading initiatives, and advancing sustainable development in their local contexts.

Congratulations to the Local Pathways Fellowship Class of 2025—we can’t wait to see what you build next.


SDSN Youth