The role of young people in the fulfillment of the SDGs

Youth activism and strengthening is on the rise around the world, reinforced by more extensive network and access to social media hence building on global interaction and convening role. The United Nations is interestingly positioned to act as a source of protection and support for young people, and a platform through which their needs can be addressed, their voice can be amplified, and their engagement can be advanced.

Today, there are 1.8 billion individuals between the ages of 10-24—they are the biggest age of youth ever. Close to 90 percent of them live in developing countries, where they make up a large proportion of the population. Their numbers are expected to grow—between 2015 and 2030 alone, about 1.9 billion young people are projected to turn 15 years old.

Associated with one another more than ever, youngsters need to and have a right to add to the versatility of their networks, proposing inventive arrangements, driving social advancement, and moving political change. They are additionally problem solvers, activating to propel the Sustainable Development Goals to improve the lives of individuals and the soundness of the planet. Far from being mere beneficiaries of the 2030 Agenda, young people have been active architects in its development and continue to be engaged in the frameworks and processes that support its implementation, follow-up, and review. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda represented the culmination of an extensive three-year process involving Member States and civil society, including youth organizations, in the development of specific goals and targets—and marked the beginning of a 15-year journey to achieve sustainable development by 2030.

Currently, there are 1.2 billion youngsters, 15 to 24 years, representing 16 percent of the worldwide population. The dynamic commitment of youth in feasible improvement endeavors is key to accomplishing inclusive and stable societies by the target date, and thereof averting the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, migration misgivings and the war against COVID 19.

While all the Sustainable Development Goals are critical to youth development, this article focuses primarily on the areas of education, employment, and career development opportunities underlining the realization of targets under these Goals.

Why this Matters;

1 in 5 young people has not completed their elementary education.
In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 60% of youth are out of school.
70.9 Million young people are unemployed
76.7% of young people are working in the informal sector
21.8% of the youth population are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) 76.9% of this population is female
13% rise in unemployment the last 3 years
5 million jobs are needed to keep unemployment at the current rate
According to the World Health Organization and partners report, 1.2 million adolescents to die every year, nearly all preventable
43% of the total number of homicides globally occur among youth
21% of youth make up the 243 million migrant worlds wide
More than 52% 15-29 years
20% of young people 15-29 years old are willing to move from their country to another.
38% migration inclination in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean

While an incredible number of youngsters are adding to the advancement of their community and are associated with the economic development in their nations a more prominent level of the adolescent populace are confronted with various social and advancement challenges. The 2030 agenda for sustainable development won’t be achievable if international development organizations, government and non-government agencies, as well as national government, do not actively and proactively find solutions to tackle global youth challenges.

It is thus that I have chosen to solicit opportunities that could bolster both academic and economic development during these unprecedented COVID-19 times and this will be partaken in my next post.

References

https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/world-youth-report/wyr2018.html

Youth and the Sustainable Development Goals

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/youth/