The headlines from the Global South once again reaffirm how pivotal youth are to movements for change. As seen most recently in Bangladesh and Kenya, young people are mobilized on the issues that impact them, and lack of jobs and economic challenges continue to be central to their grievances.
As we head into the 2024 GYEO Summit Youth Driving the Economy in about a month, I think about how the green economy presents unique opportunities for youth and what the international youth development community can do to make sure youth take advantage of these.
Green economy value chains share many of the characteristics of other sectors that hold promise for youth, such as the creative economy and technology-based jobs: these sectors are attractive to youth, they require an enabling policy environment from the government, and they require skill sets that are still absent from most training providers. What is different about the green economy is how critical youth are to creating that enabling environment for these opportunities. Unlike other industries, youth are not only aware of, but passionate about climate change. Young people are active in their communities and have the potential to influence peers’ and families’ awareness and behaviors around climate change. They are also a huge consumer base eager for climate-friendly products and services. Youth’s attention to climate change can be a game changer for demanding governments and the private sector to invest in climate-friendly innovations, change business practices, and develop climate-friendly policies. For me, this sets apart the green economy as a unique area of opportunity for youth in which they are advocates, innovators, as well as future employees.
What does this mean for our work and how does this connect with this year’s GYEO Summit? First, it means that governments and businesses should listen to youth – governments should create forums for engaging youth in decision-making; the private sector should recognize youth as innovators and tap into insights and perspectives as employees and business partners. Second, practitioners should make more room for youth meaningful leadership and voice in program design and implementation and as partners. We also need to continue to build youth’s skills as advocates and leaders and equip them with resources and connections with which they can be effective in pushing for and leading change. Third, we need to continue to develop and disseminate emerging innovations and what works to equip youth with information they can use for their programming and advocacy.
We have designed this year’s GYEO Summit to advance these objectives. The Summit is structured around 3 priority areas: Day 1- Problem Solving; Day 2- Building Evidence; and Day 3 - Emerging Innovations. Day 1 sessions will tease out strategies for youth employment in the waste economy and look at new tools for assessing green labor market opportunities. On Day 2, sessions will highlight new evidence around technical and vocational training, climate finance for youth, and systems approaches to youth employment; on Day 3 we will spotlight innovations in climate-smart agriculture, economic strategies to support youth refugees and migrants, and programming for adolescent girls in fragile settings.
Perhaps most importantly, the Summit will feature several sessions targeting youth leaders, including the Youth Leadership Accelerator, to build their advocacy skills and connect them with partners and funders. We also have several sessions bringing together donors, business representatives and youth to discuss challenges around climate change and the roles we all play in addressing these.
I invite you, as youth leaders and youth allies, to join me at the Summit to explore these issues, offer your insights, and develop partnerships that advance youth leadership in the green economy.
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