The Global Peace Foundation Kenya Country Director, Mr. Daniel Juma has called on the youth to take the lead in advocating for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Speaking at the National Multi-stakeholder’s SDGs Youth Pre-conference 2023 held at the University of Nairobi, Juma said that Africa enjoys youngest population in the world with a median age of 19 years and as a result Africa’s youth must take the lead in the African Renaissanc. The pre-conference was organized with the aim of enhancing youth participation in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The pre-conference, masterminded by Arnold Gekonga, Executive Director of Champions for SDGs Youth, served as a precursor to the 2023 SDG Summit scheduled to take place before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 18-19, 2023, in New York.
Notable attendees at the event included the Secretary-General of the University of Nairobi Students Association, the Dean of Students at the University of Nairobi, the Executive Director of Coalition for Sustainable Development, representatives from the National Youth Council, the YALI chairperson, and representatives from the State Department for Planning.
During his address, Mr. Juma underscored the Global Peace Foundation’s focal points, particularly SDG 16, and the Global Peace Leadership Conference (GPLC). He advocated for increased youth leadership in SDG implementation, arguing that youth should take up leadership roles now rather than waiting for the future.
The pre-conference was marked by productive discussions, including potential collaborations between the National Youth Council and the Mastercard Foundation. These conversations underscore the growing recognition of the crucial role that youth play in achieving the SDGs and the need for partnerships to accelerate this process.
The Global Peace Foundation Kenya Team’s active participation in the event highlights their continued commitment to empowering youth and fostering their leadership in the pursuit of sustainable development.