Youth Forum
9 and 11 December 2024, Gaborone, Botswana
There can be no sustainable development without the involvement of young advocates and other leaders who will be the inheritors and drivers of the decisions made in Gaborone. They must therefore be empowered and facilitated to help shape those decisions.
Recognizing the importance of integrating youth perspectives, ideas, and solutions into these discussions, this proposed youth engagement campaign aims to harness the creative energy of young people from LLDCs to contribute to this once-in-a-decade gathering.
The LLDC3 Youth Forum will be an opportunity for world leaders to hear from those at the front lines of development deficits, and for young people to be exposed to the international decision making process.
By actively involving youth in LLDC3, the unique perspectives of young people can help develop novel strategies for overcoming geographic barriers, promoting sustainable economic growth, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Objectives
- Elevate Youth Voices: Elevate the voices of young people (aged 18-35) from LLDCs by providing a platform for them to share their experiences, ideas, and solutions on overcoming geographical barriers, digital inclusion, and job creation.
- Enhance Youth Participation: Facilitate the meaningful engagement of young leaders in shaping the development agenda of landlocked developing countries, and the implementation of the ensuing Programme of Action.
- Integrating Youth Solutions: Utilize social media platforms to amplify underrepresented young voices from LLDCs, ensuring their perspectives, ideas, and solutions are included in the outcomes of the LLDC Conference, especially on topics relating to jobs, digital inclusivity and the environment.
Phased Activities
#LockedOut: Social Media Campaign
- Launch an international social media campaign to highlight youth perspectives from LLDCs, under the #LockedOut campaign banner.
- Online dialogue day with Q&A
Linking Futures: Storytelling Fellowship (February-June)
- Young people, known as the Landlinked Fellows will be selected based on their ideas and artistic proposals, as well as their ability to deliver on those proposals, and provided with mentorship and equipment from Canon to create compelling digital content focusing on jobs, digital entrepreneurship and innovative solutions to the issues faced by landlocked youth.
Third 缅北禁地Conference on the Landlocked Developing Countries
- Youth fellows’ work will be showcased at the Conference in Gaborone through an exhibition and as the centre piece of the opening film of the conference
- A full programme will be built to ensure their full participation in the official processes, including speaking slots at key moments such as the opening and closing sessions; the private sector forum and other tracks with thematic overlaps; and invited to organise a 2-3 side events on specific themes relevant to young people and the realisation of their potential.
Further Information:
Yuki Mitsuka (UN-OHRLLS) yuki.mitsuka@un.org
Xuqian Qin (UN-OHRLLS) xuqian.qin@un.org
2024 HLPF Side Event: Empowering Youth for Sustainable Development: Voices from the LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS