Adjany Costa
Tribute
Angola's conservation efforts benefit from Adjany Costa's scientific expertise, but her child benefits from the passionate care she brings to protecting endangered species. While environmental journals document her professional impact and news outlet focus on how she was Angola’s youngest minister at age 30, we choose to honour the nature walks where she's pointed out tiny miracles, the environmental consciousness she cultivates in her home, and the way she teaches that all living things – from the smallest insect to the most complex child – deserve our careful attention.
Profile
Adjany Costa is an Angolan biologist, conservationist, and a mother of one dedicated to environmental preservation and sustainable development. In April 2020, at just 30 years old, she made history as Angola’s youngest Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Environment. Though her tenure ended in October 2020, she continues to serve as an advisor to the President, focusing on conservation strategies and community-driven environmental solutions. Her work is deeply rooted in protecting Angola’s biodiversity while ensuring local communities benefit from sustainable environmental practices. A passionate advocate for wildlife conservation, Adjany holds a PhD in International Wildlife Conservation Practices from the University of Oxford. She played a key role in the Okavango Wilderness Project, a mission to protect one of Africa’s most vital river basins, and was featured in the National Geographic documentary “Into the Okavango”. Her dedication earned her the United Nations Environment Programme’s Young Champions of the Earth award for Africa in 2019. She was also honoured with Angola’s First Order of Civil Merit for her efforts in community-based conservation with the Luchaze people.