Feb 01, 2021
Most of the big decisions that affect our climate are made by older people sitting in corporate boardrooms and government offices or attending international summits. But why is that, when the greatest and most damaging effects of these decisions on our climate will be felt by the next generation?
The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) aims to lead the way in changing this situation by proposing a new Youth Engagement Strategy - also known by its positive acronym, YES. The strategy was presented at the CIF-hosted virtual YES Technical Review on Friday (January 29). The strategy is still at a draft stage, and CIF invited perspectives from the young leaders attending Friday's meeting.
The strategy’s core aims include:
- Increase the participation of youth leaders in the governance of CIF, including as CIF Observers, who participate in CIF governance committees, help to formulating climate strategies, and monitor climate projects.
- Support local youth climate resilience initiatives.
- Collaborate with young people and promote their vital role in tackling climate change.
Mafalda Duarte, Head of CIF, said: "Young people care passionately about the future of our planet and are a tremendous source of ideas, energy and enthusiasm for effective climate action. It is incumbent on all of us to listen to them, promote their voices, and work with them on policy advocacy, political activism and local climate resilience initiatives. Young people bring a different perspective that will make all of our projects more successful." Dora Nsuwa Cudjoe, Senior Operations Officer of CIF, said: "Through our new Youth Engagement Strategy, we will collaborate with youth leaders' efforts to fast-track countries' access to clean energy and technology, climate resilience, and sustainable forest management, especially in developing and emerging economies.”
The YES will further amplify CIF’s ongoing support to youth involvement in climate action.
A bottom-up approach to development
Friday's Technical Review was attended by representatives of the Global Center on Adaptation, the Adaptation Fund, the World Bank's Youth to Youth Network. The strategy's aim of promoting youth voices was also reflected in the line-up of speakers. They included:
- Joshua Amponsem, the founder of Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) and fellow, Global Center on Adaptation
- Lea Mireille Phillipe-Kagan, Public Health and Pharmaceutical Consultant to the World Bank; and Co-Coordinator of the World Bank Youth to Youth
- Alona Kazantseva, Consultant in Energy Law to the World Bank; and Co-Coordinator of the World Bank Youth to Youth
- Freeman Elohor Oluowo, Head of Nigeria’s African Centre for Climate Action and Rural Development, and a CIF Youth Intern. He played a crucial role in drafting the strategy.
- Farayi Madziwa, Readiness Coordinator for Climate Finance, Adaptation Fund
- Diksha Bijlani, youth activist and consultant to CIF with expert knowledge in behavioral change in the natural resources sector
The Technical Review and the strategy are just two examples of CIF's model of participatory and bottom-up approach to development. CIF aims to empower youth climate activists and youth-led organisations to engage locally and with national initiatives. It is particularly important to CIF that its initiatives accommodate the diversity of young people across race and color and includes those with disabilities.
What will happen next? The CIF will incorporate the comments and recommendations from the Review into a final version. This will be shared with CIF's management and implemented to ensure that the youth voice is loudly represented in CIF’s business. It is hoped other organisations will follow this model in the future.
