Our Future, Our Present: Young People at the Heart of the 2030 Agenda!
– Lessons from the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2016
By Jasmin Burgermeister
What a great moment! Young people are overtaking the United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2016! They are coming from everywhere, striving all to make the world a better place. The conference room is full of fresh, dynamic youth as it hasn't been for a long time. It's Youth Forum time!
Arriving at the Forum, I got a feeling of hopefulness in the leading role that young people must play in the process of transforming our world. My hopefulness arrived too early, as I learned during the two following days. There is still much work to be done in putting youth at the forefront of sustainable development.
The focus of this year's ECOSOC Youth Forum was on "Youth Taking Action to Implement the 2030 Agenda". The Forum brought together Member States, representatives of youth organizations, Youth Delegates, young political leaders, and UN agencies. However, it was disappointing for me to sit during the opening of the Forum and see a number of empty seats behind Member States' name plates. It was also discouraging to see a number of those Member States who were present at the great opening to disappear right before the breakout sessions began – the breakout sessions where we had intense, substantive discussions! We all agreed at the Forum that when youth representatives from all over the world are in one room and ready to speak out for their generation, we no longer want to hear long statements by Ministers expressing their interest in having an exchange with us. Instead, we want to have real, interactive, face-to-face dialogues with them on the new ideas we have!
Nevertheless, the ECOSOC Youth Forum is and will always be a great space for young people to have their voices heard at the United Nations. This year’s Forum, for example, offered the opportunity for regional sessions, where participants gathered to discuss key issues, challenges and priorities for young people within their respective regions in relation to the 2030 Agenda. Specific recommendations were shared per region, and among all of us there was great appreciation and recognition of the importance of having such discussions at the regional level.
Even with regional representation, I have to admit, a real representation of the world's youth has not been ensured. If we really want to establish the ECOSOC Youth Forum as a body to express young voices, we also need to consider the legitimacy of the Forum's participants based on factors such as the participants’ origin, their social class, their education, what kind of youth they represent, and the youth organizations that they are a part of.
As we all know, there are not enough specific reference bringing attentionto young people within the 2030 Agenda. This is something that I confirmed, along with other Youth Delegates, when we actually counted the references while at the ECOSOC Youth Forum. Nevertheless, the strong consensus from this ECOSOC Youth Forum highlighted that despite this, youth need to be at the heart of the entire Agenda if we are to achieve sustainable development. It is relevant for youth and young people’s participation in it; it is relevant for the world. We have the power to change the world, yes, – but we need the right space, support and recognition for this to happen. Youth participation is needed across the entire Agenda as all of the Goals are relevant to young people and will, therefore, depend on our input and our contribution not only today but over the next fifteen years!
The last plenary session on the second day of the ECOSOC Youth Forum focused on partnerships with young people. I intervened and took the chance to raise another point: it’s not just about our concrete contribution to the implementation itself. If we take the Agenda seriously, youth also have to play an important role in the monitoring process and hence, youth-led organizations and national youth councils should have the opportunity to contribute to the intergovernmental review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) held annually in July is and will be the UN body in charge of this review process. For this reason, young people’s contribution should also be ensured through participation of official Youth Delegates as part of Member States' delegations to the sessions of the HLPF! If your country does not have Youth Delegates to the HLPF, demand for it!
Let's spread this message as the outcome of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2016: it is young people like us who will make the 2030 Agenda become a success. We take this responsibility seriously - come on Member States, make your contribution as well!
About the Author:
Jasmin Burgermeister, age 21, is one of the official German Youth Delegates to the United Nations (2015-2017). Together with her colleague, she is in charge for all issues on Sustainable Development. Having this position, she not only attended the 2015 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) but also the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the 2030 Agenda last September. She travels around Germany to meet young Germans and teach and talk with them about sustainable development. You can contact her on facebook or send her an e-mail to jugenddelegierte@dbjr.de.
The theme of this year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum was “Youth taking action to implement the 2030 Agenda”. The meeting focused on ways in which young people can play an active role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The youth forum turned out to be a platform for brainstorming and informed discussion between youth representatives and policy makers. A key message that emerged from the forum was the recognition that young people are not only key actors in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but they are also directly affected by the challenges the SDGs seek to tackle.
Inter-Agency Update
The IANYD working group on Youth Participation in Peacebuilding held a two and a half day workshop retreat from 3-5 February 2016 in UNHQ, New York. The retreat brought together members of the working group, including UN entity and youth civil society representatives to discuss upcoming work related to the recent adoption of Security Council 2250 on youth, peace and security, as well as other priorities in the area of youth and peacebuilding. The Working Group has just published a practice note on youth participation in peacebuilding, in cooperation with Peace Nexus Foundation, which can be downloaded here.
UN Entities Highlighted News
ILO: Guy Ryder announces Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth
The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth was launched at UN Headquarters by Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), at the opening of the United Nation’s annual Youth Forum. In describing the Initiative, Ryder stated that it is a unique partnership with governments, the UN system, businesses, academic institutions, youth organizations and other groups to scale-up action to create new opportunities and avenues for quality employment in the global economy and “assist young people in developing the skills needed to compete in today’s job market”. In this video, the ILO introduces the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.
ECA: African Youth at the Frontline of International Climate Negotiations at COP21
More than 50 young Africans took part in the Paris climate negotiations in December 2015. Among them were the youth from the African Clim-Dev Youth Platform (ACLYP), an initiative supported by the Economic Commisions for Africa (ECA) which played a remarkable role in bringing African Youth to the frontline of the international climate negations. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission (AUC), emphasized the need to empower young people through supportive leadership that includes youth in policies, strategies and budgets. The African youth position at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) stressed for a fair climate agreement and accessible opportunities in climate-finance for youth entrepreneurship. More
FAO and Tunisia launch project to reduce distress youth mobility in rural areas
On 25 January 2016, FAO and the Government of Tunisia held an inception workshop in Tunis for the project Youth mobility, food security and rural poverty reduction, funded by the Italian Government and aimed at reducing distress youth mobility. Seventy one participants from the government and civil society discussed value chains with potential for job creation and agreed on the need to increase youth’s access to financing, training and markets and investments by Tunisian Diaspora in their areas of origin.
ILO: Three ways we can tackle youth employment
In this blog Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlights three ways to tackle the youth employment challenge. According to the ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Youth 2015 report, the global youth unemployment rate has stabilized at 13 per cent following a period of rapid increase between 2007 and 2010 but it is still well above the pre-crisis level of 11.7 per cent. While there is no magic wand that will solve the problem of youth employment globally, there is a great deal that governments, workers and employers can and will be doing to make a difference.
UN MGCY: Youth Science-Policy Interface (SPI)
The Science-Policy Interface provides the foundation for empirically-based policies, facilitates the use of science in policy implementation/review, and provides a scientific lens into monitoring impact. The formation of the Youth Science-Policy Interface (SPI) Platform will mobilize young scientists by offering a partnership platform between the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UN MGCY) and science/technology groups focusing on the follow up and implementation of the SPI. It will engage youth in existing SPI initiatives within the United Nations, and mainstream an evidence-based methodology across UNMGCY’s work to ensure coherence across all processes. More
UNDP: Panel on Youth, Peace & Security
On 5 February 2016, a policy forum on UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, its implementation and opportunities for young people’s participation in peacebuilding was co-hosted by the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Working Group on Youth and Peacebuilding (part of IANYD), and the Permanent Missions of Jordan and Sweden. Panellists included Martine Ekomo-Soignet, founder of youth-led peacebuilding organization URU; Saba Ismail, Executive Director of Aware Girls / UNOY Peacebuilders representative; and Yasmine Nasser El Masri, Project Coordinator at SfCG Lebanon. More
UNDP Yemen: 10 innovative business ideas from youth to revitalize the local economy in Yemen
Ten innovative business ideas out of 1,660 applications won the UNDP Youth Innovation and Creativity Award in Yemen, aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs to establish start-ups and generate jobs. The 2015 conflict influenced the award to adopt flexible approaches and retain ideas that can restore services needed by the populations. The winners will receive USD 15,000 of seed capital along with mentoring and coaching services. Two awards are dedicated to solar energy solutions, to promote the renewable energy sector.
UNDP Colombia: Young People Build Peace in Colombia
For a long time, young people all over Colombia’s different regions have created their own processes, projects, and initiatives aimed at building peace and promoting their rights and participation in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. These include the youth platform for peace in Meta, the network for young peacebuilders in Antioquia and the School for Youth Leadership in Nariño - all of which have been supported by UNDP’s Local Partnerships for Peace and Development. More
UNDP: Promoting Youth as Partners in the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda
Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, delivered closing remarks at the ECOSOC Youth Forum held on 1-2 February 2016. UNDP also moderated a plenary session and interactive discussion focusing on priorities and next steps in promoting youth as partners in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; co-led breakout sessions on Youth and Peaceful and Inclusive Societies, Youth and Climate Change and Youth Employment, and supported the regional breakout sessions on Latin American and the Caribbean and on the Arab States. More
UNFPA Palestine: Youth’s right to healthy lifestyle is advocated by Palestinian celebrities
Noura Abu Madi is a talented young singer who is not only well-known as a singer but also as an ambassador to the “YPEER - Youth Peer Education” network in Palestine. Noura has been advocating for Palestinian youth’s rights through her songs and media messages. Noura is a member of a group of Palestinian celebrities who is voicing youth issues and calling for youth civic participation. More
UNFPA Lebanon: Theater-Based Peer Education and youth performances
UNFPA Lebanon worked closely with Visual and Performing Arts Association (VAPA), an NGO, to create awareness among young people on gender-based violence and the effect of family formation on youth-parent communication. Two theatre-based peer education plays were developed and performed in front of 290 students (15 to18 years old) from Al Mabarrat and Makassed. The knowledge increase of the students is well documented through the analysis if pre- and post-tests. More on the theater plays performances here.
This is the story of four young people from the small town of Ferizaj in Kosovo becoming agents of change in their community through the mentorship of the Kosovo Innovations Lab. Since 2010, the Lab has brought together youth and adolescents from across the country. Part of the project involves workshops where ideas are incubated. It helps them discover opportunity for making positive changes in their communities, and it empoweres them through training, mentorship and a space for concrete implementation of their ideas. More
Youth in Action
7th University Scholars Leadership Symposium
Humanitarian Affairs UK will host the 7th University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam on 1-7 August 2016. More than 1,000 youth leaders are expected to attend this Symposium. UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam will deliver a keynote statement at the Symposium. Several UN agencies will conduct simultaneous workshops at the event. The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations has expressed his thoughts on the event “I think Humanitarian Affairs UK has created such a wonderful platform for you to gather together to discuss leadership, to discuss your own actions, and to deal with humanitarian and development challenges that the world faces.” More
African Youth for SDGs Launched in Cameroon
In the margins of the Means of Implementation of Agenda 2030 towards rolling out the SDGs on 1 January 2016, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN) Global Coordination Unit (GCU) is spearheading the African Youth SDGs Training Program in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI),World We Want (WWW), Association des Femmes pour la Paix et Encadrement des Famille (AFPEFAM), Soughtout Cameroon (SOC), Environmental Protection and Development (EPDA), and Collectif des OSC pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et le Développement Rural (COSADER) . The purpose of the program is to come up with proposals for mainstreaming youth in the implementation of the SDGs in local languages and to develop the road map for the implementation of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development by all UN Member States. More
Global Young Voices: A panoply of stories that unveil issues tackled by countries worldwide from the genuine perspective of native young students.
Global Young Voices is a youth project that aims to inform people about the peculiarities and commonalities of our countries from the unique and cultured perspective of young natives. Through stories and re-portages that refine youth’s understanding of the world we strive to dispense significant content that inspires, drives and leads to actual change.
Publications
ILO: Do working conditions in young people's first jobs affect their employment trajectories? The case of Peru
This ILO report analyses labour market transitions in Peru to explore how the characteristics of a young person’s first job affect the quality of employment later in life. Based on the school-to-work transition survey (SWTS) run in 2012, the analysis concludes that having a high-quality first job (for example, with a written contract) significantly increases the probability of getting other high-quality jobs later in life.
ILO: Young and female – A double strike? Gender analysis of school-to-work transition surveys
This ILO report, Young and female - A double strike? Gender analysis of school-to-work transition surveys in 32 developing countries, explores the experiences and constraints faced by young women and men in the world of work. Based on the school-to-work transitions surveys (SWTS) of 32 developing countries run between 2012 and 2015, the report concludes that being young and female continues to pose a double challenge for the current generation of young women looking to find decent jobs. More
ILO: Youth Employment Inventory (YEI) in Tunisia
This ILO report analyses youth employment interventions in Tunisia to provide comparative information about their design, implementation and effectiveness. Based on the Youth Employment Inventory (YEI) database, the report examines 83 active labour market programmes which provided skills training, entrepreneurship promotion, employment services or subsidized employment to young people in Tunisia between 1987 and 2014.
UNCDF: Building the Business Case for Youth Finance Services: Further insight from the YouthStart Programme.
Want to know more about how financial service providers can provide services to youth? Read the YouthStart Programmes recent publication on “Building the Business Case for Youth Financial Services: Further Insights from the YouthStart Programme”. This paper provided a concise summary of the importance of youth financial services through three case studies. The study tackles the profitability question of youth savings and loans with integrated financial education components, and offers recommendations for future endeavors. More
