CSF Academy 2025 – Youth Fellowship on Nature, Climate and the Economy

 

Sri Lanka’s pathway to growth today must necessarily depend on making decisions that balance natural capital with economic success.Policy, finance, trade, and urban development are too often treated separately – when in fact, they are deeply interwoven with environmental and climate realities. The CSF Academy Fellowship aims to bridge these divides and nurture a generation of Sri Lankans who can think systemically, communicate across disciplines, and influence how policy and practice evolve in the years ahead.

A Structured Learning Programme

The CSF Academy 2025 Youth Fellowship on Nature, Climate, and the Economy is a 9-week intensive programme bringing together young professionals and students across Sri Lanka who are passionate about tackling complex, interconnected challenges at the intersection of nature, climate, and the economy.

Sri Lanka’s economic recovery cannot be separated from how we treat our environment. Development that ignores nature and climate risks may create short-term gains but threatens long-term prosperity. The CSF Academy Youth Fellowship is designed for the next generation of leaders who want to challenge this trade-off and drive smarter, more sustainable choices for the country’s future.

Application and Selection (now closed)

Applications for the first cohort were conducted during September-October 2025 through a network of outreach partners, including the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society Youth Wing, Global Youth Biodiversity Network – Sri Lankan Chapter, British Council Youth Climate Ambassadors, Climate Intelligence Network, and the Sisterhood Initiative.

Nearly 100 applications were received from across the island, representing a wide range of disciplines – from environmental science and policy, to law, government, conservation, design, and communications. After a rigorous selection process conducted by CSF – based on motivation, experience, and alignment with the Fellowship’s goals – 16 Fellows were selected to form the inaugural 2025 cohort.

The 2025 Cohort 

The first cohort of CSF Academy Youth Fellows brings together a multi-disciplinary and dynamic group of 16 emerging thinkers and doers from across Sri Lanka – with a desire to learn and equip themselves with new knowledge and skills to help create greater impact in their organisations and professional ecosystems.

Group photo taken at the inaugural session on 15th October 2025, TRACE Expert City

  1. Aneeqa Atham – Final-Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science, University of Jaffna
  2. Mohammed Shifan Abdul Cader – Wildlife Guard Officer, Department of Wildlife Conservation and Law Student
  3. Dineshkanth Balasrikandharajah– Head of VisAct Media, DreamSpace Academy | Environmental Researcher
  4. Esheena Boodagoda – Undergraduate in Landscape Architecture
  5. Anika Shakyna Dassenaike – Consultant and Project Coordinator, Specializing in human rights, gender equality and sustainability
  6. Thushari Gamage – Research Associate, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
  7. Nethmina Jayasinghe – Secretary, National Environmental Pioneer Forum
  8. Viranja Jayawardena – Programs and Communications Associate at Good Life X
  9. Sara Kandasamy – Fashion Design and Marketing Undergraduate; Intern at Kaizen Productions
  10. Dulimi Kulasinghe – Undergraduate in Environmental Conservation and Management; Research Assistant Intern at CIFOR-ICRAF
  11. Isuri Kumbukage – Law Student and Research Assistant
  12. Dilshani Maralanda – Undergraduate in Coastal and Marine Resources Management
  13. Yashika Nipuni – Director, Sustainability and Operations, Climate Intelligence Network
  14. Hiruni Peiris – Graduate Researcher and Instructor in Sustainable Food Systems
  15. Harshi Prabhashani – Undergraduate, Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Ocean University of Sri Lanka
  16. Pranathanthri Sharma – Undergraduate, Ocean University of Sri Lanka, Oceanography, and Member of GYBN Sri Lanka Steering Committee

Programme Details

The Fellowship is an intensive 9-week programme from October to December 2025, with weekly in-person sessions. Each session explores a critical theme that shapes Sri Lanka’s environmental and economic landscape, including:

Follow updates on CSF’s instagram page here

Knowledge Materials

Illustration of women planting mangroves, with wind turbines in the background
SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
3 Reasons Why Sri Lanka Should Consider Gender in Climate Finance
Climate finance is growing globally, but women risk getting left behind. From the instruments we use, to the climate actions we fund, women are impacted. As Sri Lanka attempts to accelerate climate finance, gender must be a leading consideration.
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currency notes and coins on a forest floor
APRIL 18, 2024
Advancing Green Finance in Sri Lanka: Updates, Prospects, and Challenges
For a recent Roundtable on green finance with financial institutions and development partners, CSF had the opportunity to provide inputs into the design of the session and provide concluding insights at the end of the session. This Analytical Note serves as a recap of the key findings and takeaways on the progress of implementing green finance in Sri Lanka, the near-term prospects, and current and emerging challenges to be tackled.
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a graphic of solar installation on a rooftop
AUGUST 5, 2024
Prioritising Green Jobs in Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery
Sri Lanka is yet to give dedicated national priority to this agenda, unlike several other countries that have placed it at the heart of public policies on TVET and employment. The country must build on the recognition given to green jobs in its Climate Prosperity Plan, and articulate a clear and future-oriented ‘Green Jobs Strategy’.
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