UNDP Spotlights Seychellois Women for Sustainable Development
October 5, 2026
By: Joshua Marie
Four Seychellois women working across government, parliament and environmental conservation have been highlighted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their contributions to sustainable development in Seychelles.
First Lady Veronique Herminie, Acting Clerk of the National Assembly Alexandria Faure, Principal Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources, Nanette Laure, and SeyCCAT Blue Grants Fund Coordinator, Joanna Prosper, feature in a special Seychelles edition of UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles' Gendered Voices newsletter.
Published under the theme “Women Advancing the SDGs in the Republic of Seychelles,” the edition looks at how the four women are contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, advocacy, environmental stewardship, social action and community engagement.
In her message accompanying the publication, UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles Resident Representative, Alka Bhatia, said Seychelles has made progress towards gender equality, with women increasingly taking leadership roles across different sectors.
She noted, however, that progress towards the SDGs remains uneven globally and said women's participation is an important part of addressing development challenges.
“Leadership is an act of service,” Bhatia said, adding that the four women featured in the publication demonstrate different ways women can contribute to the country's development.
Herminie, who became First Lady following the October 2025 presidential election, is featured for her efforts to connect women and communities with government and civil society.
According to the newsletter, her office has engaged with hundreds of Seychellois through consultations and has supported vulnerable families, accessibility initiatives for people with disabilities and community literacy programmes.
A central part of her work is the establishment of the Women in Support of Transformation (WOSITA) Foundation, which is intended to provide a space where women can support, mentor and empower one another.
Herminie said the idea emerged from conversations with women around Seychelles, some of whom had ambitions but lacked the guidance needed to pursue them.
“I am very proud to be a Seychelloise and even more proud of our achievements as Seychellois women,” she said.
The First Lady also stressed the importance of creating opportunities for younger women and girls, saying established women have a responsibility to help others find their place in society.
Faure's profile focuses on strengthening public participation in the work of the National Assembly, particularly among women and young people.
Having joined the National Assembly in 2017, Faure rose through several positions before being appointed Acting Clerk on October 1, 2026.
The newsletter highlights efforts by the institution to strengthen engagement through school visits, public dialogues and consultations on issues affecting people's lives.
Faure said institutions should not simply wait for people to approach them but should actively reach out to communities.
“For the first time, the National Assembly is led by a female Speaker. This representation matters,” she said, pointing to the importance of women and girls seeing themselves represented in positions of leadership.
She also highlighted Parliament's role in advancing the SDGs, particularly SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.
“A Parliament is key – it cannot be left behind or forgotten. We are a key partner in helping the country move forward,” Faure said.
Laure, meanwhile, is recognised for her work in environmental management and for representing the interests of small island developing states.
Her career in the environmental sector has included work in coastal zone management, fisheries and marine resource management before her appointment as Principal Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources in 2025.
The newsletter notes that her work now covers areas including pollution, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, waste and environmental governance.
Laure said environmental protection cannot be achieved by government alone and requires cooperation with civil society, businesses and communities.
“Without partnerships the Government alone will not be able to achieve all the targets that have been set,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of Seychelles participating in international discussions as a small island developing state, where issues such as climate change and ocean conservation can have particularly significant consequences.
Laure identified SDG 13 on climate action and SDG 14 on life below water among the country's environmental priorities.
Prosper is featured for her work connecting environmental conservation with the communities that depend on Seychelles' natural resources.
Her career has included work with the Ministry of Environment, the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme and Reef Rescuers, before joining SeyCCAT's Blue Grants Fund in July 2026.
Through the fund, she is involved in supporting conservation and climate-related projects across Seychelles.
Prosper said environmental programmes need to take into account the people whose livelihoods and communities are directly affected by conservation decisions.
“For a small island nation with limited resources, collaboration is essential,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of involving communities from the beginning of environmental projects rather than treating them solely as beneficiaries.
The UNDP publication concludes that the experiences of the four women demonstrate the importance of inclusive leadership, stronger institutions, environmental stewardship and partnerships in advancing sustainable development.
It also argues that Seychelles' progress towards the SDGs will depend not only on government policies but also on collaboration between institutions and communities, and on ensuring that women and young people have opportunities to participate in shaping the country's development.
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