The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(UNECA) will on December 20, 2021 host a dialogue for African Youths who will discuss the Continent’s journey towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On December 25, 2015, the world came together in a historic moment to commit to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. in its resolution adopting the SDGs
The General Assembly declared that “the future of humanity and of our planet lies in our hands. It lies also in the hands of today’s younger generation who will pass the torch to future generations“.
The virtual event will be held under the theme: “Africa’s youth in the decade of action“: Actors or Bystanders” between 12 pm and 1 pm UTC and 3 pm and 4 pm East African Time, via zoom.
This dialogue will serve as a platform for young people to engage with leaders to renew their commitment to the 2030 Agenda and to advocate for urgency, ambition, and actions to realize sustainable development.
Organizers add that it will provide African Youth a virtual hub to mobilize, reflect on their needs and aspirations, and establish a coalition for positive change through the achievement of the goals.
“It will gather youth African Leaders to share best practices, experiences, and challenges in their work towards the goals so far, and provide a platform for peer learning, connection and collaboration for their going forward during the Decade of Action,” UNECA said in a statement,
“Brainstorm concrete ideas and actions that young women and men can take in their respective communities, countries, and regions to ensure that Africa achieves the Goals of 2030,” they added.
UNECA says that young people are those most affected by the SDGs and they stand to gain the most for high_quality education, decent work, gender quality, and a healthy planet.
Dr. Vera Songwe, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa will give the welcoming remarks followed by a keynote speech from Ms. Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti, a Climate and Environmental activist.
Hon. Emma Theofelus, the Deputy Minister of Information Communications and Technology of the Republic of Namibia; Prof.Adji Bousso Dieng, founder, Africa I Know and Assistant Professor Princeton Mr.Thobo Khathola the managing Director Lion Tutoring and Mr. Achalake Christian Leke, the Executive Director, LOYOC Cameroon will be the panelists in the discussion.
Ms.Jayathma Wickramanayake, the United Nations Secretary _General’s Envoy on Youth will give a closing remark.
“With a median age of just 19.7years, the population of Africa is the world’s youngest. Its young people will steer the continent’s trajectory in the twenty-first century their success or failure will also be that of the whole continent,” UNECA said
It also recognized that” children, young women, and men are critical agents of change and will find the new Goals a platform to channel their infinite capacities for activism into the creation of a better world”.
At the end of 2019, along five dimensions of sustainable development (people, prosperity, planet, peace, and partnership).
Africa was largely off_ truck. Then COVID19 struck, threatening to erase much of the continent’s progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
