The Cuomo Foundation at the Planetary Health Awards in Monaco

[Photo: Catherine Plotnikov, Prof. Gilles Dreyfus, Maria Elena Cuomo, Francisco A. Diaz Lison, Jonathan Tabourel and Janaka Samarakoon representing the Cuomo Foundation at the 19th Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Planetary Health Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner]

On 16 October 2026, four individuals, whose academic and professional journeys have been supported by the Cuomo Foundation, attended the 19th Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Planetary Health Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner in Monaco.

The event, held at the Salle des Étoiles – Sporting Monte-Carlo, brought together professionals and organisations working to address global environmental challenges, highlighting the role of science, education and international cooperation in protecting the planet.

Established in Monaco in 2001 by Maria Elena and Alfredo Cuomo, the Cuomo Foundation works across education, social assistance, environmental studies and culture. Since joining the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Scholarship Programme in 2013, it has funded 31 doctoral projects enabling researchers from 19 different countries to pursue advanced studies on climate change and its effects.

Maria Elena Cuomo, Philanthropist and President of the Foundation, has made education a central part of the organisation’s mission. Through its partnerships and programmes, the Foundation is committed to creating opportunities for individuals to develop expertise that can inform and contribute to solutions in their respective fields of either environmental or societal challenges.

Among the four attendees, Dr Pedro Fernandez, Paul Andrés Jiménez, Aman K C are students associated with the IPCC Scholarship Programme, and Prabakaran A. supported by the Cuomo Foundation. They have followed different academic and professional paths, addressing issues ranging from sustainability, deforestation, and glacier hazards.

Dr Pedro Fernandez, from Argentina, studied silvopastoral systems in the dry Chaco, examining the factors influencing their adoption. His later work explored the relationship between cattle ranching and deforestation across South America’s dry forests, including the challenge of balancing agricultural production with forest conservation. He also participated in the Re.Generation programme organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation with financial support from the Cuomo Foundation, that put a focus on sustainability beyond academic research.

Paul Andrés Jiménez, from Ecuador, specialises in soil and landscape conservation, restoration and monitoring. He examines how agricultural technologies can improve soil management and help maintain productive, healthy landscapes.

Aman K C, from Nepal, is a PhD student in geosciences at Boise State University. His studies focus on glacier change and the hazards associated with melting ice and its interactions with the wider Earth system, helping improve understanding of risks faced by mountain regions.

Prabakaran A., from Kovalam in southern India, serves as Deputy Director of Urban Planning in the Government of Tamil Nadu. Through his work in public service, he contributes to urban development and planning decisions that affect local communities. He attended the Cuomo Foundation established Saint Jospeh’s Higher Secondary School in Kovalam and went on to receive a scholarship to pursue higher education. From 10 to 20 June 2024, he also participated in the Re.Generation programme in Monaco.

Their attendance to the 19th Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Planetary Health Awards Ceremony connected their individual work with broader priorities. Whether examining land use, soil management, urban planning or glaciers, each one addresses challenges that affect both natural systems and the communities that depend on them.

For the Cuomo Foundation, their attendance reflected the long-term value of investing in education and giving students the opportunity to apply their expertise to challenges in their home countries and beyond.