Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad. Photo courtesy of the ministry.
Madbouly assigned Local Development Minister Manal Awad to temporarily oversee the Environment Ministry’s duties until a new minister is appointed.
Fouad, who has served as Environment Minister since June 2018, was named by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in May as the next UNCCD Executive Secretary, becoming the first Egyptian to hold the role. She will succeed Mauritania’s Ibrahim Thiaw, whose term will end in early August.
The exact start date for Fouad's three-year term has yet to be announced.
Madbouly congratulated Fouad on her new post, calling the appointment a testament to her expertise and leadership in environmental diplomacy. He praised her service and wished her success in supporting international efforts to combat desertification and promote sustainable development.
Fouad brings over 25 years of experience in environmental governance, international climate negotiations, and sustainable development policy. She previously served as Assistant Minister of Environment and was Egypt’s Ministerial Coordinator and Envoy for COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.
She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences and a PhD in Political Science with a focus on Euro-Mediterranean relations.
In a statement welcoming his successor, outgoing Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Yasmine Fouad brings with her a wealth of experience and deep commitment to the environment and sustainable development. I warmly congratulate her on her appointment and have full confidence that she will bring new energy and vision to the role.”
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