The TEDX NYARUGENGE Countdown Summit will bring together 1,000 Activists and community change drivers and everyone interested in climate change and the environment in a hybrid event at Kigali Marriott- Rwanda on 30th October 2021 under the Theme “Tackling Climate Change”. TEDx speakers will share a blueprint for a beautiful net-zero future. This plan – along with inspiring stories of local action – will be amplified by other TEDx Countdown prerecorded stories from around the world.

This year, we’re inviting the brightest thinkers and doers from Rwanda and around the world to gather in hybrid event format for the first-ever TEDx climate conference — a day of inspiring talks, collaboration, connections, and commitments to meaningful action for a better world.
Ahead of the pivotal 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the Countdown Summit will unveil some of the imaginative and scalable solutions that we’ll need to turn the tide on climate change and create a healthier and more equitable world for all.
A net-zero future is possible. That’s why we’re hosting this gathering for politicians, business leaders, policy makers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, artists, philanthropists, youth activists and others to organize and work together to make that future a reality.

The countdown is a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action.
The goal is to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 in the race to a zero-carbon world – a world that is safer, cleaner, and fairer for everyone.
Organizations, public and private companies, citizens in Rwanda and beyond are invited and welcome to collaborate with us and act on climate. It is a movement open to everyone – and everyone has a vital role to play.

It’s clearer now than ever that climate can’t wait. There is a pathway out of this. We can change climate change. But it needs everyone’s urgent attention – including governments, civil society organizations, multilateral institutions, companies, cities, and you!

We are bringing together scientists, activists, entrepreneurs, urban planners, farmers, CEOs, investors, artists, government officials, and others to find the most effective, evidence-based ideas out there. Our goal is to identify and share/present the bold solutions that can be activated when people break out of their silos and rise to the challenge.

TEDx Nyarugenge Climate Change Countdown seeks to answer six fundamental, interconnected questions that help inform a blueprint for a cleaner future.

Questions/Issues to address at TEDx Nyarugenge Countdown

1. Energy
How rapidly can we switch to 100% clean power?
2. Transport
How can we upgrade the way we move people and things?
3. Materials
How can we re-imagine and re-make the stuff around us?
4. Food
How can we spark a worldwide shift to healthier food systems?
5. Nature
How do we better protect and re-green the earth?
6. Finance
How can we attract and mobilize climate financing?

Two sessions of inspiring mainstage speakers, interviews, and performances – plus a few surprises.

We dive deeper into the key questions and the solutions shared by speakers, take master classes on specific areas of interest or work with your peers in small-group sessions guided by TED cycles format.

From impromptu encounters to in-depth conversations over Lunch, Participants will have plenty of opportunities to connect with other attendees from a wide variety of fields and disciplines – to meet, talk and learn.

Countdown Summit November 2021
We will share a blueprint for a beautiful net-zero future at a COP26 with global leaders. further amplified by hundreds of TEDx Countdown events around the world and a special global Livestream. These events will combine talks, case studies, and workshops — and celebrate new commitments made efforts in progress, and the people who are driving them.

While we’re optimistic about our ability to safely convene a hybrid event in Kigali this October, we’re also working to maximize health and safety by factoring in space for physical distancing, inviting vaccinated participants for physical participation, extra protective measures, and by following the advice of experts and government safety protocols.

Kigali Marriott Hotel
Nyarugenge
Kigali, Ville de Kigali, KN
Rwanda

Daniella Ngarambe

Graduate Student at CMU-Africa in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Graduate Student at CMU-Africa in Electrical & Computer Engineering with a focus in Energy Systems. Her interests include renewable energy technology, research, and data analysis. She is currently working on a paper that discusses electric mobility in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Athanase Mukuralinda

ICRAF Country Representative Rwanda. Senior scientist in soil fertility management, nutrient cycling and agroforestry systems

Dr. Athanase Mukuralinda is ICRAF Country Representative, senior scientist in soil fertility management, nutrient cycling, and agroforestry systems. He holds a Ph.D. in agroforestry on soil fertility management in agroforestry systems. Athanase has over 25 years of extensive experience in research development in agroforestry, fundraising, teaching and administration. Athanase is the project manager for Regreening Africa project in Rwanda (2018-2022) operating in 8 countries of Western Africa (Senegal, Mali, Niger, Ghana) and East Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia), and parallel to other projects like IKI, Trociare, DESIRA, and GIZ projects. Athanase published many papers in peer-review journals, technical reports, and wrote many policy briefs. In addition, Athanase participate in national, regional, and international conferences where he gave oral presentations or presented scientific posters

EZRA KWIZERA

INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN

Ezra Kwizera is an international artist, music producer, and community leader. Ezra’s music style is richly multi‐cultural – a zesty yet soulful mix of Reggae, Soca, East African Bongo, and Pop. With linguistic agility, Ezra fluidly sings and raps in English, Kinyarwanda, Luganda, Zulu, and Swahili. Growing up as a refugee in Uganda before moving back to his home country Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, Ezra has a powerful motivation to support Rwandans through his music to rebuild their country. His music conveys the spark of an overcomer and the passion of a community leader with a vision to inspire change in his generation. He currently lives in BC, Canada.

Gil Karie

Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Ignite Power

Gil Karie is the Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships of Ignite Power, a leading pan-African provider of solar-based solutions, already connected more than 1.5 million people to electricity through clean, sustainable solutions. Prior to joining Ignite, Gil was the Project Manager of the Zell Entrepreneurship Program at the IDC Herzliya, one of the world's leading academic programs in the field of entrepreneurship, and the former deputy Editor-In-Chief of Forbes Magazine in Israel, covering the Israeli entrepreneurial ecosystem. Gil is a retired IDF Captain and holds a B.A from Tel Aviv University.

H.E. Omar Daair

British High Commissioner to Rwanda

Omar Daair was appointed as the British High Commissioner to Rwanda and non-resident Ambassador to Burundi in January 2021 and started the role in July of the same year. Omar joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2002. His career has largely focused on Africa, including roles as Private Secretary to the Minister for Africa and Deputy Head of Africa Department (East & West), as well as overseas postings to Sudan (2005 to 2008) and South Sudan (2010 to 2011). He has also worked on NATO policy and national security issues, and was posted to Washington, DC (2011 to 2014). Omar’s most recent role before moving to Kigali was as Head of Europe Department, leading EU Exit-related development work in London. Omar is a graduate of the London School of Economics and the School of Oriental and African Studies. He also holds a Masters of Public Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University.

Michael Lee

Filmmaker & Creative Coach

Michael Lee is a rare combination – a working creative professional who is also trained and skilled in facilitating innovation breakthroughs for leaders, entrepreneurs, teams, and coaches. He is a Master of Creativity and Innovation Coaching, Master NLP Practitioner, and Team and Executive Coach. As a filmmaker, his shows have won 5 South African Film and TV Awards (SAFTAs) and he has directed numerous documentaries and reality shows throughout Africa, as well as being the Head of Factual Programmes for Gotel International in Abuja. He recently edited the 3x award-winning best-selling book Innovation Starts With I, and is currently editing a fiction work by Adam Fleming, and several non-fiction books for Ripple Impact. He consults as a Global Advisor to the Silicon Valley firm Innovation Minds on strategy as well as serving as their lead facilitator for innovation sprints. After receiving his BA and MA at Stanford, he has spent most of his adult life as an expatriate.

Ms. Rolande Pryce

World Bank Group Country Manager for Rwanda

A Jamaican national, Ms. Pryce joined the World Bank Group in 2006 as Counsel in the Legal Vice Presidency, representing the Bank in operations in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands, and providing legal advisory support in finance, infrastructure, and private sectors. She has since worked in three regions, East Asia and Pacific, South Asia and Africa and has overseen World Bank programs in the Caribbean; Sri Lanka and Maldives; Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania. In 2012, she was assigned to the Africa Energy Practice Group where she was responsible for quality and portfolio management. of what was at that time a $10 billion portfolio. Before joining the World Bank, Ms. Pryce served as legal adviser to the Jamaican Government on Public International Law and International Trade issues for over ten years; and as an Adjunct Lecturer on Public International Law at the University of the West Indies.

Munyakazi Deo

Inanga player, Multi-instrumentalist - Composer - Singer and founder of InangaWorldWide.

Munyakazi (Born In Rwanda) is an award nominee, Inanga player, Multi-instrumentalist - Composer - Singer, and founder of InangaWorldWide. His approach to fused music gave birth to his first Album "Isoko Dusangiye" which lead him to be featured by Bandcamp as one of Six Artists Bridging Past and Present in Rwandan Music. Touring Musician Munyakazi Deo is bringing back a welcome, shine, and relevance to the instrument of Inanga. He holds MBA in Business Administration, Project Management, and Bachelor's Degree in Arts & Creative Industry. In His Latest Single "Bizashira" he Fuses Cello with Inanga. You Can Visit His Website for more about His Music.

Nicolas Peks

Multi-talented artist , DJ, singer, producer, sound engineer, and entrepreneur

Nicolas Peks is a multi-talented artist, DJ, singer, producer, sound engineer, and entrepreneur born and raised in Bujumbura, based in Toronto and now lives in Kigali. Started music very young (14) as a Dj, later worked in many clubs and lounges in Bujumbura also started performing as a singer/ performer in a few clubs/festivals in Bujumbura, Kigali, Kampala, Europe & North America. He produced and recorded one of the songs known as Kugasozi Kakure, and now a member of Okavango African Orchestra that won the *Juno Award for the best world music album of the year 2017.