VIDEO: Rocky Dawuni designated as Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment

Rocky Dawuni, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter was today designated as the Regional UN Goodwill Ambassador at an evening of celebrations at the conclusion of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF)  African Landscape Restoration event at UN Environment headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.

A celebrated global performer with a decade-long career, Rocky is an avid humanitarian and environmentalist, lending his voice to amplify issues of poverty, environmental degradation, water and sanitation issues and women’s rights.

“There is so much positive energy in Africa and many opportunities to protect and restore the environment across the continent,” Dawuni said. “And music is a powerful force that brings people together and inspires action. I want to work with communities and help them share their successes and encourage them to keep moving forward to make the future brighter for generations to come.”

As a Regional UN Goodwill Ambassador, Rocky is uniquely positioned to generate considerable support and publicity amongst his audience for UN Environment’s messages and goals through engaging, organizing, and leading activities specifically targeted to his audience.

“Dawuni’s eloquence, cultural diplomacy and successful melding of music and activism have led him to become a passionate spokesperson for various global causes” said Erik Solheim, UN Environment Executive Director. “We are delighted to share the stage with another Goodwill Ambassador, Suzanna Awiyo, who, like Rocky, is a passionate humanitarian and environmentalist”, he added.

Rocky’s infectious grooves and dance-inducing anthems have consistently excited fans across the globe. A galvanizing performer, Dawuni has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Jason Mraz, Janelle Monae and John Legend, among many others. Named one of Africa’s Top 10 global stars by CNN, he has showcased his talent at prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

United Nations Goodwill ambassadors volunteer their time, talent and passion to raise awareness of United Nations efforts to improve the lives of billions of people everywhere. Rocky Dawuni joins an illustrious line-up of UN Environment Goodwill Ambassadors including Don Cheadle, Gisele Bundchen and Ellie Goulding.

GLF Nairobi 2018 bought together almost 1,000 policymakers, practitioners, scientists and others to highlight successful approaches to landscape restoration in Africa. Community engagement and partnerships emerged as key elements in promoting more sustainable landscapes across the continent. The event was webcast globally with thousands participating in the digital edition and on social media.

To help support landscape restoration in Africa, Dawuni also announced a crowdfunding initiative by the Global Landscape Forum to support communities whose efforts to repair degraded mangroves, farms and other land were highlighted in the Voices of the Landscape series during the conference.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About UN Environment

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the global environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world.

About the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration

The Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR) is a proactive global network that unites governments, organizations, academic/research institutes, communities and individuals under a common goal: to restore the world’s lost and degraded forests and their surrounding landscapes. The GPFLR responds directly to the Bonn Challenge to restore 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. www.forestlandscaperestoration.org