Hailing from the pastoralist Northern Kenya, Mohamed Adow, the Founder and Director of Power Shift Africa, felt the devastating impacts of climate change firsthand. This is because pastoralist communities in Kenya are among the groups severely affected by Climate Change. Seeing his family and community lose their wealth of livestock punched Mohamed in the gut. Compelled to put an end to this, he utilised his partnerships and forward-thinking, and is now an African voice calling for climate action through policy-making. 

Offering Immediate Action

Mohamed’s first action towards sheltering his community from the impacts of climate change was providing food aid. He did this with thoughtfulness and the desire for impact until he realised that he was barely scratching the surface of the climate change problem. There was a need to confront the entire iceberg and not just its tip. Following this, he started championing the reduction of global heating to below 1.5 degrees, and a shift to clean energy.  

The Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)

Mohamed’s scope to inspire change widened in 2008 when he joined Christian Aid as their global climate policy lead. At Christian Aid, Mohamed actively voiced his climate and zero carbon energy advocacy. His voice traversed over 50 countries and rallied more than 1000 organisations to form the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA). PACJA now strives to establish a global environment that’s free from threats and climate change. One that is founded on sustainable development, equity, and justice for all. 

By the time Mohamed left Christian Aid in 2019, he had caught the attention of the media who oftentimes sought his African voice on climate matters. 

Founding Power Shift Africa

This attention from media had Mohamed thinking about the possibility of coming up with an African organisation centered on African climate change and energy issues. Subsequently, he founded Africa’s think tank and heavyweight organisation: Power Shift Africa. With Power Shift, Mohamed has advanced the mobilisation of climate action in Africa. He has enhanced the media visibility of the climate crisis and used the power of the media to call for climate justice. 

International Recognition 

For this dedication, Mohamed was the Climate Breakthrough Awardee in 2020. Yet, that isn’t all there is to this outspoken leader. Mohamed is the former Board Chair of Climate Action Network International and the current advisor to the Climate Vulnerable Forum. In 2022, Mohamed reminded the delegates who had attended the Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Egypt, that Africa has all the natural resources it needs to adopt renewable energy but needs the political goodwill to finance this transformation. 

In all these positions, Mohamed has worked with over 100 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from more than 11 countries. Through Power Shift, he has built the capacity of these organisations to adopt renewable energy. To add to that, they provide them with data and resources, and advocated their climate concerns to necessary parties. As of March 2023, they have reached over 10, 000 people.  

Certainly, Mohamed is relentless in rallying African leadership to articulate Africa’s climate grievances on international stages and inspire the adoption of feasible global climate policies. Mohamed Adow is remarkable for his unwavering drive to improve climate resilience and adaptation.  

#OurGoalGetters.