UNFCCC team/division: Capacity-building, Means of Implementation Division

Tasks: delivering key tasks from the division’s workplan

• Leading the production of official reports and coordinating informal negotiations
• Organizing high-impact events like the Durban Forum, Regional Dialogues, and the Capacity-building Hub
• Involvement in the Global Stocktake, NAPs, and climate finance initiatives
• Cross-cutting collaboration with the Rio Conventions and partnerships with organizations like the NAP Global Network
• Representing the Capacity-building sub-division in high-level missions

Impact of Fellowship

This Fellowship marked a significant milestone in my career, allowing me to contribute meaningfully to global climate action while honing my skills.

As a Fellow, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the Secretariat's functions and its pivotal role in intergovernmental climate change negotiations, gained insight into the current state of climate change discussions, and recognized the significant contributions of both Party and non-state Party stakeholders in addressing the global climate change.

On a knowledge level, the Fellowship provided a deep dive into the technical, policy, and operational aspects of capacity-building for climate action.

This Fellowship experience profoundly enhanced my personal growth by challenging me to step out of my comfort zone, assume leadership roles, manage complex events/activities, and engage with diverse stakeholders in a dynamic international setting.

Apart from professional experiences, the Fellowship was a transformative personal journey that deepened my sense of purpose as an individual. Coming from a small remote sub-national island from the Indian Ocean region, I have witnessed first-hand the importance of building-capacity but also the challenges to address the impacts of climate change. Meeting with islanders from the Caribbean and Pacific regions, I have greater appreciation of our uniqueness and better understanding of the challenges we face.

This Fellowship also taught me the value of perseverance and adaptability in the face of complex, often overwhelming challenges, and circumstances. Balancing my personal life and responsibilities while navigating the intricacies of multilateral processes pushed me to grow emotionally, developing resilience, keep my composure while working under tight deadlines and enabled me to discover multitasking skills I did not know I possessed.

Ultimately, the Fellowship was a life-changing experience that helped hidden skills to emerge.This experience has not only enhanced my professional growth but also built me as an individual. I really enjoyed my time as a Fellow.

Looking ahead;

This holistic exposure has empowered me to approach capacity-building challenges with a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic insight, and stakeholder engagement. The knowledge and experience gained will help me conceptualize and deliver capacity-building initiatives in my home country in innovative and improved ways.

Supervisor comments:

Ms. Perrine excelled in organizing and moderating key events, including the Durban Forum on Capacity-Building and PCCB dialogues during Regional Climate Weeks. She took a leading role in speaker outreach, drafting concept notes, and structuring session agendas—earning praise from colleagues and external stakeholders for her calm, solution-oriented approach.

Her ability to analyze and synthesize complex information was evident in the preparation of official UNFCCC reports, briefing notes, and event summaries. Her meticulous attention to detail and adherence to UN writing formats ensured clarity, coherence, and a high standard of professionalism in all deliverables.

Rio Conventions Joint Capacity-Building Programme

One of the highlights of Ms. Perrine’s fellowship was her leadership in conceptualizing and implementing the Rio Conventions Joint Capacity-Building Programme in collaboration with the UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD secretariats. She not only managed scheduling and follow-ups with partners but also facilitated high-level inter-agency discussions that successfully integrated the diverse priorities of each convention.

Her strong coordination skills and inclusive approach to gathering stakeholder inputs played a key role in the programme’s successful launch and ongoing activities. By developing concept notes, preparing background documents, and ensuring consistent messaging across the various workshops and webinars organized, she laid a solid foundation for future collaborative workstreams. In her final report, she reflects on this experience as a transformative learning opportunity that expanded her strategic thinking and deepened her commitment to multilateral cooperation.

Leadership in Event Design and Moderation

A particularly noteworthy aspect of her fellowship was the leadership she demonstrated in designing, organizing, and moderating high-profile events. From the initial concept development to speaker outreach, detailed agenda planning, and final execution, Ms. Perrine played a pivotal role in ensuring their success.

Feedback from participants consistently highlighted her ability to create an engaging environment that balanced expert insights with active audience involvement. Her final report underscores the confidence and expertise she gained through orchestrating such high-level events.

Conclusion

Overall, Ms. Perrine’s fellowship has been marked by outstanding performance, particularly in event moderation, analytical rigor, and multistakeholder coordination. Her practical contributions to the Rio Conventions Joint Capacity-Building Programme and other key initiatives have significantly advanced the Secretariat’s capacity-building objectives. This final evaluation confirms that she has met all expectations, acquiring valuable skills that will serve her well in future roles.