Side Event during ECOSOC Youth Forum 2021, “Youth-Agents of change for transformative recovery of LDCs”

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 12:30:00 +0000

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

6 April 2021
New York, USA

To all of you present, a warm “Malo e lelei”, Hello!

I welcome you in my native Tongan language.

I join Ambassador Al-Thani of Qatar and the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, in thanking you for your active participation.

It is a pleasure to be with you this morning.

This meeting is your occasion, your opportunity to share your perspectives on the role of youth in shaping the sustainable development agenda.

In turn, the global community has the chance to listen to you on how we can better work with you to first recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in sustainable ways and then to hear what you expect from a new programme of action for the LDCs for the next 10 years.

As you know, within the membership of the United Nations, we have 46 least developed countries.

Countries where people live low levels of socio-economic development and high vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks.

The LDCs represent about 13% of the world’s population but 40% of the world’s poorest.

The LDCs share about 1% of global GDP, global trade and Foreign Direct Investment.

Close to 50% of the population do not have access to electricity so it is no surprise that few enjoy access to modern technologies like we do !

LDCs on the other hand have a large youth population.

In LDCs, roughly 60% of the population are under 25 years old.

This demographic structure in LDCs presents a challenge but also a powerful opportunity for LDCs to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

So, youth must be at the forefront of social and economic development.

Young people in LDCs are facing formidable challenges.

Of course, foremost we find unemployment, lack of access to quality education and health care, inadequate social protection, gender-based violence, and limited access to finance and opportunities for skills development, to name a few.

This limits young people from unleashing their potential to act as agents of change for sustainable development.

In many instances, it is young people’s innovation and entrepreneurship driving the productive capacity in LDCs.

Young people play constructive roles in community building, in environmental preservation, in innovative job creation and all this promotes social cohesion and generates positive impacts on stability and peace.

Now, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of many young people everywhere.

Lockdowns and movement restrictions have inflicted a heavy toll on your education, future prospects and employment.

In the LDCs, many young people are engaged in the informal sector of the economy.

It is precisely the informal sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 disruptions.

And it is young women workers in labor-intensive and low-skilled activities who have been worst hit.

School closures during the pandemic have disrupted education of millions of school-aged girls and boys in LDCs.

Now, while this is adversity , young people have demonstrated their resilience and they have risen to the challenge as volunteers, essential workers, innovators and communicators.

They found locally adjusted innovations to cope with the pandemic. they helped meet the need of communities.

We often hear this phrase of building back better.

Building back better implies looking to the future.

To do that, it is vital that young people not only fully participate, are listened to but that their right to development must be realized.

What does this mean in practice ?

It means better education for young people, it means leveraging digitalization and technological transformation, it means programmes to reskill and upskill and it means equal access for ALL to these opportunities.

Building back better can not be done if we do not invest more in young people’s inclusion, participation, organizations and initiatives.

Young people must be included in our decision-making processes and we must have more and stronger and open dialogues with youth on development priorities.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The new Programme of Action for the LDCs will be adopted at the Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs (LDC5) in January 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

This 10-year Programme of Action for the LDCs will be adopted at a critical time as it dovetails with the last decade for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Now, the preparatory process we designed for LDC5 includes a youth track and a youth campaign.

Today’s meeting is part of the LDC5 youth track.

Today’s meeting is your meeting.

The new programme of action for LDCs will be built for the future young people, all people in LDCs want to live in.

So, let your voices be heard , express your ambitions , share with us your proposals for innovative action solutions, share with us what you want to do so we together create a better future leaving no one behind.

I look forward to listening to you.

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

Young People’s Potential, the Key to Africa’s Sustainable Development

HSASS — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:58:00 +0000

25813023921_c56f3498d9_o.jpg

Youth Envoy discusses youth participation in the implementation of the SDGs with Zambian young leaders

Jason J Mulikita, UN Youth Envoy

Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30. Such a high number of young people is an opportunity for the continent’s growth – but only if these new generations are fully empowered to realise their best potential. It is especially important that young people are included in decision making and given appropriate opportunities for work and to innovate.

Involving young people in politics and society is not merely a question of inclusion, but one that is vital for economic growth, innovation, peace and security.

The Africa Regional Review – the regional preparatory meeting for LDC5 held virtually in Malawi this week – has ensured a seat at the table for young people.

Young speakers from civil society are speaking alongisde ministers and other leaders, and the agenda features a dedicated event on young people’s role in achieving sustainable development.

Crucially the outcome document of the Review will also include dedicated recommendations and priorities from young people.

“It is important that youth is involved in decision making. It is important that we as young people are recognised as equal partners and as right holders – Not only as victims”, said Nickson Kasolene, the youth and civil society representative of the Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations (ICMYO).

Having a young population brings many opportunities for economic growth and innovation, if these opportunities can be recognised and utilised.

“Engage youth, create a space for them and give them a seat at the table,” Nickson told us in an interview. "Don’t just offer this seat passively, but empower young people to actually use it. Young people have potential and young people have collective power, with the guidance of the government they can use that power.”

In many countries outside of Africa, countries with ageing populations are facing high healthcare costs and a shortage of skilled labour. In Africa, young people face underemployment and lack of opportunities – or, without access to the internet, the lack of information about any opportunities.

Young people are contributing daily to the benefit of their communities and nations across Africa. From providing support to the elderly, to advocating for justice and equality, young people have proven their centrality to building and sustaining healthy communities.

Nickson, who is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, notes that young people have the possibility to drive peace in areas that are already affected by conflict: “Young people are so strong and think, ‘if we decide to do something we will action immediately’”.

What motivates Nickson in engaging fellow young people is what he refers to as “the duty of development” to achieve better living conditions.

He concludes, “Being involved makes you feel concerned about the problems in the community – and pushes you to have a positive social impact.”