MALDIVES

Saani Simaad is a committed climate advocate from the Maldives, actively working across national, regional, and international platforms to advance climate action and youth engagement. His advocacy journey began at the age of 16 when he represented the Maldives at the Young Leaders Convention in Turkey, earning recognition as a Sustainable Tourism Ambassador by EduTourism for Unity. Since then, he has taken on leadership roles in organizing major initiatives such as Youth Camp Maldives and Leaders Fellowship Maldives, where he also facilitated sessions for international delegates on global collaboration in climate action.

His engagement with UNICEF Maldives has been instrumental in shaping youth participation in climate policy. As an active member of both the Climate Guardians and the Youth Reference Group, he has contributed to youth recommendations for COP28 and COP29 and played a key role in pre-COP activities in the Maldives. His commitment to advocacy extends to media and public engagement, having participated in the Advocacy Skills and Media Training by UNICEF Sri Lanka and UNICEF Maldives. Additionally, he has completed the Training of Trainers (TOT) program under ImaGen Ventures and co-facilitated various capacity-building programs under UNICEF’s guidance.

Saani also represented the Maldives as a youth delegate at the SIDS4 Conference and the SIDS Children and Youth Action Summit in Antigua and Barbuda. During the summit, he addressed the Global Business Forum on behalf of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) youth and co-led a regional team that secured the Gold Pitch Award.

Beyond his climate advocacy, Saani serves as the Ambassador of Island Nations at Markaz Community, where he is dedicated to fostering youth leadership and upholding the organization’s mission with integrity and purpose within his community. Saani is also a public speaking coach at Feydhoo School, where he completed his O-Level education. In this role, he mentors and prepares students for state-level oratory competitions, equipping them with the skills to excel in public speaking and advocacy.