Parallel Session 4

Investing in Young People

Young voices from Colombia, Kenya

and Mauritius
Stockholm Dialogue, 12 June 2018
 Investing in meaningful
participation of the youth in
natural resource governance to
sustain peace

Rookayah Aumeer
Ministry of Education and Human
Resource, Tertiary Education and
Scientific Research
Mauritius
 YOUNGO

• YOUNGO is the official youth constituency at the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

• Active engagement of youth to address climate change

• Participation of youth can be:
– Local
– Sub-national
– National
– International
 Structure & Membership of YOUNGO

• 160 Youth NGO, 3500+ individuals connect through official mailing

list (moderated communication channel ) & Facebook groups,
Working groups.
• Focal Points & Bottomlining Team ensure fair and equitable
representation of south and north youth in the YOUNGO and
UNFCCC processes
Investing in meaningful participation of the youth in
natural resource governance to sustain peace

– Black River National Park

– Mauritius Wildlife Foundation (a youth led

organization)
• The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) is the only
(NGO) in Mauritius to be exclusively concerned with
the conservation and preservation of the nation's
endangered plant and animal species.
http://www.mauritian-wildlife.org/application/
 Mauritius Economy

• Mauritius depends on the tourism sector

– Restore the flora and fauna
• MWF protect the endangered species
– Protect the beach and oceans
• Beach erosion & coastal region erosion
• Filao trees along the beach
• Protect sea marine animals
 Challenges & Impact on Mauritius

• “ to zete to tasse” Slogan used to help cleaning the island.

• Plastic ban as from 1st January 2016 in Mauritius
– Agent of change
– Biodegradable and compostable plastic bags used
• Planting of 100 endemic trees in every state
schools/colleges/university
Thank You
 By: Paul Mutuku,
AYICC Kenya/ 350 Kenya Power-shift
Environmental conservation & Natural Resources manager, University of
Nairobi.
deCOALonize KENYA PROJECT

 Aims to steer Kenya towards a

renewable energy pathway, help
attain our NDC ambitions of halving
Carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.
decoalonizekenya
 Opposing plans to set up the fist ever
coal plant in (LAMU) a UNESCO
world heritage site, & stop coal
mining in Kitui(ASAL region) already
feeling the effects of Climate change.
 Progressive events on the campaign
here
Challenges
 Ignorant majority-Investors take advantage of
 Remote locations- limits information reach, exchange of knowledge &
mobilizations
 Language barriers(climate science not readily understandable to the
masses)
 Security threats & intimidations to activists
 Wanting Resources (Human, financial, …)
Results & Impacts
 Increased momentum-support from other campaigns(Break Free, GCAS,
WoMIN)
 Influenced govt officials to see sense in Environmental protection
 Radical action by energy regulator to scale down the capacity of the plant(
from 1050MW(three 350MW) to 150-200MW). NB: Citizens only want
Renewables
 Active court petition; No ongoing project development until the verdict.
 Community exchanges increased our ground representation-constant
information flow
Others - opportunities
 University energy dialogues-active participation of youths in Climate
change communication
 Angaza project
 Involvement in drafting & review of Kenya`s NCCAP
 Leading in writing of a for Kenyans COP handbook
 Communicating our action to the YOUNGO Focal points for the
constituency-reporting
 Contributing to creation of Information hubs for youths & general public-
Kenya climate change directorate
 Bringing renewable energy stakeholder on board
Country Peace Day

Bogotá, Colombia
 Source : Portafolio de Paz de la Universidad de los Andes

main

Environment
14 themes

Reintegration
Sustainable Business History
Territory
Corruption
Women
Rural Development
Legal
Early Childhood
Peacebuilding
Education
Participation
Entrepreneurship
 Challenges

• Verify if these topics will catch people.

• Participation of students, university and public community.
• Inclusion of actors.
• Change toward actions
• Ensure these events transcend to other academic spaces.
• Make the event not only a discussion in Bogotá. How to extend
it to more distant territories?
 Impacts

• Now, Día-Paíz is official once a year, as a reflection from the

academia on the problems and situations of the country.

• Día-Paíz promotes the creation of “Universidades para la

Paz“ (Universities for peace), a week in which each day, a
university promotes activities that allow reflection and
discussion on the most important issues for the country.
 Results
• Peace research and campaigns.
• Research Assistance
– Different and highly relevant topics for the current situation.
– Interdisciplinary projects.
• Participation in peace dialogues.
• Thematic advisers.
• Sensitize people.
• Master's degree in Construction for Peace.
• Offer courses in peace in all faculties.
• Summer, Winter and International courses.
• Symposia, debates.
• Seven Scholarships in Master's degree in Construction for Peace - LiderAndes
(2 for victims, 3 for ex-combatients and 2 for army).
 KEY REFERENCES

• UNSCR 2419 on Youth, Peace and Security (2018)

• The Missing Peace – An independent Study on Youth, Peace and
Security (2018)
• UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (2015)
• Youth-GPS Project Document (2016)
• Young People’s Participation in Peacebuilding: A Practice Note (2015)
• Guiding Principles on Young People’s Participation in Peacebuilding
(2015)
@undp4youth
#Youth4Peace #Youth2030 #YouthGPS

www.undp.org/youth
www.youth4peace.info

noella.richard@undp.org
youth@undp.org

LET’S STAY IN TOUCH!