Youth engagement in climate finance: challenges and opportunities

**Name:** Katangula Christopher
**Location:** Kampala, Uganda
**Occupation:** Journalist/Filmmaker
**Employment:** Tower FM (Production Manager), Film Industry (Producer)
**Specialization:** 3D Animation Short Films

**Bio:**
Katangula Christopher is a dedicated journalist, filmmaker, and TV producer based in Kampala, Uganda. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for visual aesthetics, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the media industry. Currently serving as the Production Manager at Tower FM, Katangula oversees the creation and delivery of engaging content across various platforms.

In addition to his role at Tower FM, Katangula is deeply involved in the film industry, particularly focusing on 3D animation short films. As a skilled producer, he brings creativity and technical expertise to every project, pushing the boundaries of storytelling through animation.

Originally from Uganda, Katangula is proud to contribute to the vibrant cultural landscape of his homeland. His commitment to excellence and innovation continues to drive his success in both journalism and filmmaking, making him a valuable asset to the media community in Uganda and beyond.

Following Olle, greeting all!
I'm Yusuke Sakai, also co-moderator of this discussion room. I'm part of YOUNGO & engagement at local-level SDG projects managements :)
Excited to hearing and sharing voices regarding questions above!

Following Olle and Yusuke.
Hello everyone! My name is Hager Elsayed and I am a co-moderator for this discussion room as well. I serve as a young climate negotiator in the Egyptian delegation and working as sustainable finance officer at ADCB, and look forward to your engagement and valuable insights on the discussion questions.

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Thank you for these insights Onyancha Dennis ! In the Kenyan context, why do you think the government and other stakeholders prefers to finance non-youth led innovations and initiatives? Also do you have any thoughts around how young people can leverage technology and digital platforms to access climate finance and fundraising for climate projects?

This is a very good point Ropafadzo Beverly Munouya . In your opinion how can we level the playing field between young entrepreneurs and big companies? Also what are the skills and capacities that youth need to develop in order to access more financing for projects in climate action?

Olle Mjengwa In my opinion I think entrepreneurs with innovative ideas have to be protected by governments, and also grants must be ready available for whoever has a viable idea along the climate change ideas. There also has to be non profit organizations that are willing to mentor entrepreneurs that it will equip them with the business know how.

Thanks for your input Emmanuel Zopmal . What are the capacities and skills that you feel youth need the most?

This is very insightful Emmanuel Zopmal . You make a good point that youth have high ICT literacy but my question to you is how can young people leverage their know how of IT, technology and digital platforms to access climate finance?

Olle Mjengwa The youth capacity building should focus on thematic areas of climate change such as clean energy, extreme heatwaves, blue economy and other sustainable technologies to enable them drive the transition process. The youth also need sound advocacy skills. Equipping the youth with the right information on climate change will enhance their civic engagements towards policy changes

Olle Mjengwa More so, i have mentioned earlier that first of all, access to climate finance should be made flexible. Rigorous processes and stiffer TOR won't help the youth access. Once they have access to finance, they can leverage their literacy to advance youth engagement on climate action.
Of course, I want to believe you are aware digital technology is capital-intensive.

Emmanuel Zopmal This flexibility youth funding idea is very interesting! Do you know any existing (or ideal) funding / financing mechanism that may incorporate that “flexibility”?

Very good points Mizamili Gadafi Jamali , regarding financing the local solutions, as a just climate transition requires inclusive engagement of local actors, my question is what can we do to bridge the gap of climate finance to local level?

Hello Vimbai, I'm also from Zimbabwe. Can I get in touch with you if possible this is my email... [email protected]
Your response is greatly appreciated.

Hi Vimbai, i would wish to have a discussion with you. I am Johnston Ngezimana from Zimbabwe, specialising on Climate action and biodiversity improvement under the territories of Chimanimani biosphere reserve. contact me via my email address [email protected]

Valuable insights! Vimbainashe T Chigara and totally agree that a lack of awareness and clear information can be a huge barrier. Do you think there are ways for existing organizations or even the government to better equip young people, especially those in marginalized communities, with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate these funding mechanisms?

Hager Elsayed There are several ways that the government and existing organizations/institutions can employ in addressing climate funding in marginalized communities.
1. Existing organizations and governments can offer education and training programs specifically targeted at young people in marginalized communities to help them understand climate funding mechanisms and how to access them. These programs can cover topics such as grant writing, project development, and financial management; however, the major challenge is lack of funding for such initiatives. Clearly the government of Zimbabwe is not prioritising such issues and existing NGOs need funding to navigate the marginalized communities.

2. Providing young people in marginalized communities with mentorship and networking opportunities can help them learn from experienced professionals in the field and establish connections that can support their efforts to access climate funding. However, with the level of development and poverty levels in marginalized communities only a few can afford smartphones which makes it hard to effectively and actively engage with youths.

3. NGOs and private sector can advocate for policies and programs that prioritize funding for young people in marginalized communities and help ensure that they have equitable access to climate funding mechanisms.

Johnston Ngezimana Definitely thank you so much!!!

Ropafadzo Beverly Munouya Definitely, it will be an honour!!!

You're right Sebarindwi Jean Baptiste , This point brings us back to the point of funding local solutions, so what can we do to bridge the gap of climate finance to local level?

That's a great point! John Zimba Do you see any specific policy changes or initiatives from the UN or international stakeholders that could be particularly helpful in getting these pre-seed climate startups the funding they need? Perhaps there are ways to incentivize national companies to get more involved in supporting accelerators and incubators focused on climate solutions.

This is a fantastic overview! Innocent Effiong One question that comes to mind is how can we ensure these fundraising methods, especially those involving cryptocurrency, are secure and transparent for donors, particularly young people unfamiliar with these technologies?

Hager Elsayed
Ensuring the security and transparency of fundraising methods, including those involving cryptocurrency, for young donors unfamiliar with these technologies is crucial. Here's how to address it:

1. **Educational Resources:** Provide comprehensive educational resources explaining how cryptocurrency works, its benefits, and potential risks. Include guides on how to securely store, transfer, and use cryptocurrency.

2. **Transparent Reporting:** Implement transparent reporting mechanisms where donors can track how their contributions are used and see real-time updates on the progress of fundraising campaigns.

3. **Blockchain Technology:** Leverage blockchain technology to provide transparent and immutable records of transactions, ensuring that all donations and expenditures are publicly verifiable.

4. **Third-Party Audits:** Conduct regular audits by independent third parties to verify the integrity of fundraising processes and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and best practices.

5. **Secure Wallet Solutions:** Recommend reputable cryptocurrency wallet solutions with robust security features to young donors, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding private keys and using secure authentication methods.

6. **Multi-Signature Wallets:** Utilize multi-signature wallets for cryptocurrency storage, requiring multiple parties to approve transactions, thereby enhancing security and reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

7. **Secure Payment Gateways:** Partner with trusted cryptocurrency payment gateways that prioritize security and compliance with industry standards, providing an additional layer of protection for donors' funds.

8. **Regular Security Updates:** Stay informed about the latest security threats and best practices in cryptocurrency security, and promptly implement updates and patches to mitigate vulnerabilities.

9. **Community Engagement:** Foster a supportive community where donors can share their experiences, ask questions, and receive guidance on cryptocurrency-related matters from more experienced users and experts.

10. **Feedback Mechanisms:** Encourage donors to provide feedback on their experiences with cryptocurrency donations, and use this feedback to continuously improve security measures and enhance transparency in fundraising processes.

Hager Elsayed
In Response to your questions on how can we ensure these fundraising methods, especially those involving cryptocurrency, are secure and transparent for donors, particularly young people unfamiliar with these technologies? here are my few highlight points to ensure donors security, transparency and youth knowledge and skills scale up in the cryptocurrency tech - Space For Climate Financing.

1. Education: Providing comprehensive education about cryptocurrencies, including how they work, their benefits, risks, and how to securely use them. this education can be in the form of workshops, online tutorials, or informational materials exchange.

2. Transparent Communication: Clearly communicate the fundraising process, including how funds will be collected, stored, and used. by using simple languages and local content to explain technical approach and reassure donors about the security measures in place.

3. Secure Platforms: Use reputable and secured platforms for fundraising that have robust security measures in place, such as encryption multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits.

4. Compliance with Regulations: Enduring compliance with relevant regulations and best practices for fundraising and handling cryptocurrencies, such as anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements applications to secure process.

5. Accountability: Implement mechanisms for accountability and transparency, such as publicly accessible blockchain records that show how funds are being used and regular updates on the progress of fundraising efforts.
e.g (Decentralized system approach).

6. Feedback Mechanisms: Establish channels for donors to provide feedback, ask questions, and raise concerns about the fundraising process, including the use of cryptocurrencies.

7. Ongoing Support: Provide ongoing support to donors, including assistance with setting up cryptocurrency wallets, troubleshooting issues, and addressing any concerns they may have challenge with.

So by considering and adopting these steps, organizations can help ensure that fundraising methods involving cryptocurrency are secure and transparent for donors, including young people who may be unfamiliar with the technology

Effiong Innocent
Nigeria 🇳🇬

Hello Taitos, also from Zimbabwe here, how can these barriers be lifted because youths are greatly marginalized when it comes to decision making in terms of climate change. How best can they be educated so that they know the dangers of climate change?

Very insightful! Taitos Mangoma , To dig a little deeper, do you see/recommend any existing programs or initiatives "Best practices" that are successfully helping young people overcome these financial limitations?

Interesting point! Cresentia Bhandi Moyo Do you think there are ways to leverage existing youth networks or educational institutions to better spread awareness about these resources?

Hager Elsayed ,We can leverage existing youth network by engaging with educational institutions like schools ,colleges and universities .We can also collaborate with clubs that are already there in these institutions. Here in Zimbabwe there are a few clubs that take part in climate action but l think they need more support and also they need to be advertised .We need flyer videos and blogs on these to draw in more people.

Hager Elsayed Absolutely, leveraging existing youth networks and educational institutions is a powerful way to spread awareness on various topics. Here are some potential ways to do so:

1. **Student Organizations and Clubs**: Encourage student-led clubs and organizations within schools and universities to take up causes and spread awareness. These groups often have passionate members who can effectively communicate messages to their peers.

2. **Partnerships with Educational Institutions**: Collaborate with schools and universities to integrate awareness campaigns into their curriculum or extracurricular activities. This could include guest lectures, workshops, or projects related to the cause.

3. **Utilize Social Media and Online Platforms**: Engage with youth networks through social media platforms and online communities. Create shareable content, organize online events, and utilize hashtags to amplify the message.

4. **Peer-to-Peer Education**: Train students to become peer educators who can disseminate information within their social circles. Peer-led discussions and workshops can be highly effective in reaching and resonating with young people.

5. **Youth Ambassadors Program**: Establish a youth ambassadors program where passionate individuals are selected to represent and advocate for the cause. These ambassadors can organize events, create content, and engage with their peers both online and offline.

6. **Incorporate Technology**: Utilize educational technology platforms and apps to deliver educational content in an engaging manner. Gamification and interactive content can enhance learning and increase participation.

7. **Collaborate with Youth-Focused Organizations**: Partner with youth-focused NGOs, community centers, and youth clubs to reach a wider audience and benefit from their expertise in engaging young people.

By tapping into existing youth networks and educational institutions, organizations can effectively spread awareness and inspire positive change among the younger generation.

You're right, it's crucial to support the unique climate solutions by young people in rural areas are developing. Do you have any ideas on how to better identify and connect these young innovators with relevant funding opportunities? Sebarindwi Jean Baptiste