24/04/2024
Honored to have our Executive Coordinator Sohanur Rahman represent , the official Children and Youth Constituency of UNFCCC, at the panel organized by the Global Center on Adaptation, alongside UNFCCC and other partners, discussing 'Youth Engagement with National Adaptation Plans'. It was an enlightening discussion with speakers from Bangladesh, Canada, Malawi, SÃŖo TomÊ and PrÃncipe, Sri Lanka, and the UAE highlighting crucial points:
đââ Engaging young people in designing, implementing, and evaluating .
đ Challenges like lack of funding, information, and training.
đ° Needs for financial support, raising public awareness, and capacity-building programs.
đ¨ Enabling youth engagement through music, theater, social media, storytelling, and simple language.
Thrilled to share insights from Sohanur Rahman's speech, advocating for youth engagement in planning to evaluation, stressing the importance of platforms for active contribution to decision-making processes.
"Create platforms," Sohanur urged, "for young voices to contribute actively to decision-making processes." In đ§đŠ, where youth are actively engaged in the NAP process, identifying adaptation needs & implementing innovative solutions.
Sohanur shared that youth Org. like YouthNet Global are leading by example, empowering young individuals in planning and collaborating with local governments & organizations for impactful initiatives.
"Engagement is just the beginning," emphasized Sohanur. "We must ensure youth-led initiatives are implemented with dedication." This means setting clear targets, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcomes to turn ideas into tangible actions.
"Meaningful youth involvement requires collaboration across sectors & stakeholders," stressed Sohanur. "We must create an environment where young voices are embraced for their invaluable insights & perspectives."
Based on research findings of YOUNGO, Sohanur proposed several recommendations for implementation & assessment, including considering intersections, supporting capacity-building initiatives & establishing frameworks for inclusion based on best practices. Let's align our efforts with global adaptation goals, involve financial institutions and the private sector in financing approaches, and set specific targets for youth inclusion in monitoring, evaluation & learning frameworks.
Integrating youth into isn't just about ticking procedural boxes; it's about recognizing their creativity, energy, and passion in shaping a resilient future for all.
Let's harness the power of youth to drive positive change and build a sustainable world together!