Africa -Consultation on Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs

Hello everyone and welcome to the Africa Discussion Room on Youth Engagement in NDCs!
I’m Zipporah Njenga, one of the moderators for this discussion room. A climate action advocate with experience in International policy advocacy and youth inclusion in multilateral environmental governance processes.
Meaningful Youth Engagement is critical in all levels of environmental decision making processes.
I am looking forward to moderating the conversation and facilitating constructive dialogue as we delve deep into the various dimensions of youth engagement in NDCs in the African Continent

Hi all, hi Zipporah, glad to meet you here.
I'm Théodore TOYI MIREFU ftom the DRD very interested in climate change issues.
I'm Masters-student in Economics applied to environment and climate change.
I'm journalist and media consultant working in peacebuilding and social cohesion.
I can't wait I'm hearing from everyone.
Our discussion will make our engagement very favorable for the goals

Hello everyone,

I’m Chinoza Eze, and I’m thrilled to be part of this important conversation on Youth Engagement in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) within the Africa Discussion Room. As a passionate advocate for sustainability and environmental transformation, I have dedicated myself to fostering innovative solutions in the waste management and recycling sectors, particularly through my work with Renoverde Reciclagem in Guinea-Bissau.

I believe that youth empowerment plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of climate action. Young people are not only future leaders but also today’s changemakers, bringing fresh ideas and solutions to the table. By engaging youth in the development and implementation of NDCs, we can drive effective, community-driven climate actions that address both global and local challenges.

I look forward to exchanging ideas, learning from all of you, and contributing to a meaningful dialogue that amplifies the role of youth in achieving a more sustainable and resilient Africa. Together, we can make a lasting impact through collaborative action and innovation.

Let’s dive in and make this discussion a catalyst for real change!

Thank you!

As a young person in a climate-vulnerable region, I believe that youth should be at the forefront of shaping Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In my region, the most pressing climate challenges for young people include extreme weather events, food insecurity, and a lack of access to climate education and green job opportunities. Key sectors to prioritize are renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and water management, as these directly impact youth livelihoods and future prospects.

Barriers to meaningful youth engagement in NDCs include limited access to decision-making processes, lack of funding for youth-led initiatives, and insufficient representation in policy discussions. Governments and non-state actors must create platforms for youth involvement and establish mechanisms for meaningful consultation.

To make NDCs more youth-inclusive, they should incorporate youth priorities like green jobs, education, and resilience-building. Young people should play active roles in designing, implementing, and monitoring NDCs, ensuring that policies are both relevant and effective in addressing the needs of future generations.

Governments and stakeholders must provide financial support, capacity-building, and establish partnerships with youth organizations to ensure sustained engagement. Policy reforms that recognize youth as key climate actors and include them in all stages of the NDC process will help achieve a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Young people face many challenges when trying to engage in climate action and the NDC process. Many do not have access to clear information about climate policies or how they can contribute. Even when they are passionate, they are often left out of key discussions and decisions. Governments may not have proper systems in place to involve youth, leading to participation that feels more symbolic than real.

Lack of funding and resources also makes it hard for young people to take action or sustain their initiatives. Communication gaps between youth and government officials create further barriers, as bureaucratic processes can be slow and unwelcoming. In many cases, youth-led projects and ideas are overlooked, even though they offer valuable solutions. Social and political challenges in some regions also make it difficult for young people to freely express their views and participate in decision-making.

To change this, governments must actively support young people, provide them with resources, and create spaces where they can truly contribute to shaping climate policies.

*Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges:*

- Most pressing climate challenges: climate change impacts on agriculture, water scarcity, and energy access.
- Priority sectors: agriculture, energy, water, and education.

*Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs:*

- Key challenges: lack of awareness, limited access to decision-making spaces, and insufficient funding.
- Barriers to youth-government collaboration: mistrust, power imbalance, and limited capacity.

*Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful:*

- Design NDCs to reflect youth priorities through inclusive consultations and participation.
- Roles for young people: shaping, implementing, and monitoring NDCs.

*Strengthening Youth Participation:*

- Policies: ensure youth representation in decision-making spaces.
- Resources: provide funding, capacity-building, and mentorship.
- Partnerships: foster collaboration between governments, youth organizations, and stakeholders.

La Journée internationale de la forêt est célébrée chaque année le 21 mars pour sensibiliser l'opinion publique à l'importance des forêts pour la planète et pour les générations futures.

Le thème de cette année, "Les forêts et les aliments", met en évidence le rôle crucial que jouent les forêts dans la production alimentaire et la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.

Voici quelques faits intéressants sur les forêts et les aliments :

1. *Les forêts fournissent des aliments pour 1,6 milliard de personnes* : Les forêts sont une source importante de nourriture pour de nombreuses communautés, notamment les peuples autochtones.
2. *Les forêts abritent 80% de la biodiversité terrestre* : Les forêts sont des écosystèmes complexes qui abritent une grande variété d'espèces végétales et animales.
3. *Les forêts jouent un rôle crucial dans la régulation du climat* : Les forêts absorbent le dioxyde de carbone et produisent de l'oxygène, ce qui contribue à réguler le climat.
4. *La déforestation et la dégradation des forêts menacent la sécurité alimentaire* : La perte des forêts peut entraîner la perte de biodiversité, la réduction de la production alimentaire et l'augmentation de la vulnérabilité aux changements climatiques.

Pour célébrer la Journée internationale de la forêt, nous pouvons prendre des mesures pour protéger et préserver les forêts, telles que :

- *Soutenir les initiatives de reboisement et de restauration des forêts*
- *Choisir des produits alimentaires durables et équitables*
- *Réduire notre consommation de papier et de produits forestiers*
- *Sensibiliser les autres à l'importance des forêts pour la planète*

Ensemble, nous pouvons faire une différence pour protéger les forêts et assurer une sécurité alimentaire durable pour les générations futures.

Hello Anymone

As a climate activist working on climate justice and youth engagement, I strongly believe that young voices must be at the center of climate governance. Meaningful youth participation in NDCs is not just an option—it’s a necessity for ensuring inclusive and effective climate policies.

Through my work with Climate Justice Bangladesh and Climate Club, I have seen firsthand how youth-led initiatives can drive real impact. From advocating for climate action to mobilizing communities, young people are already leading change. It’s time for decision-makers to fully recognize and integrate our efforts into national commitments.

Looking forward to contributing to this important discussion and collaborating for a more just and sustainable future.

#ClimateJustice #YouthEngagement #NDCs

Hello everyone! I am Mika Byabuze From Goma, D R Congo. And i am happy to be part of this community.

In my opinion, To Create dedicated programs to empower youths through education, training, and funding for innovative climate solutions locally, particularly in sustainable agriculture and green technologies is ONE of the key elements to engage youths in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the face of climate change.

Hi, I'm Simon Morris from West Africa, Liberia. Am Passionate about the environment and it inhabitants. An Environmental mover and Ocean defender. I volunteered for Blue International and other Environmental organizations. I'm the founder of Zero plastic Liberia Environmental organization. From my prospective, I believe that youth empowerment plays a key role in shaping the future of climate action. Young people are not stakeholders but drivers of direct change. We comes in with fresh ideas and energy to impact the Environment. engaging we the youths in development and implementation of NDCs, are vital to Climate change. we are capable and also willing to learn, act and save our planet. The future of the planet depends on the Youths. Therefore, we must be given the opportunity to drive effectively. both locally and globally
Thanks!

Hello everyone, I'm BAGONZA RICHARD, a student at Makerere University's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Uganda. Hello, Moderator Zipporah Njenga!

I'm excited to join this NDC Group because I'm passionate about sustainability in Africa, especially when it comes to climate and agriculture. I believe that by working together, we can create a better future for our continent.

I'm looking forward to learning from all of you, sharing my own ideas, and contributing to the important work of bridging sustainability in Africa. Thank you

Les récentes inondations dans la région de l'Extrême-Nord du Cameroun, notamment dans les départements du Diamaré, Logone et Chari, Mayo-Danay et Mayo-Kani, ont causé d'importants dégâts et perturbations dans la vie des populations locales ¹.

Selon les rapports, les inondations ont été causées par les pluies torrentielles qui se sont abattues sur la région. Les autorités locales et les organisations humanitaires sont mobilisées pour apporter une aide d'urgence aux personnes affectées.

Il est important de noter que les inondations sont un phénomène récurrent dans la région, et il est essentiel de prendre des mesures pour prévenir et atténuer leurs effets. Cela peut inclure la mise en place de systèmes d'alerte précoce, la construction de digues et de canaux de drainage, ainsi que la sensibilisation des populations locales aux risques liés aux inondations.

Enfin, nous souhaitons exprimer notre solidarité avec les personnes affectées par les inondations et nous nous joignons aux efforts pour apporter une aide d'urgence et pour reconstruire les communautés touchées.

Hello, everyone my name is Charles W. Morgan Jr from Liberia, West Africa. I am the Co-founder of For Beach Liberia, an environmental conservation organization in Liberia that is spreading climate education, and planting one million trees in the nine coastal counties of Liberia, to protect vulnerable coastal communities from the adverse effects of climate change.

With about 60% of the population of Africa been under the age of 25, it is proven that Africa has the youngest population on the planet.

Therefore it is very important for young people in Africa to leverage the opportunity and tap into the potential of the youth, to innovate idea's that can make our world a better place.

Young people should not just be seen as future leaders, but as leaders now and in the future.

Africa produces just about 4% of the green house gas emissions, but suffers the brunt effects of climate change.

Despite having huge Forest Reserves and the raw materials to lead the green energy transition, Africa has always been sidelined and marginalized in the climate discussion and the green energy transition.

The Young people of Africa need to take the stand, hold leaders accountable and take the lead in the climate discussion from an African perspective.

Gone are the days when young people were seen as less important.

Young are the foundation upon which our planet and future generations rely on.

It is a very essential that youth are included the creation of policies, including NDC's, NAP's etc.

I believe that the young people of Liberia are "Change Makers not Child Soldiers".

Thank you.

Hello everyone, and thank you, Zipporah, for moderating this important discussion!

I’m excited to be part of this space, engaging with passionate youth working towards a more inclusive and impactful approach to NDCs in Africa. As a climate advocate and a strong believer in youth-led innovation, I’m here to contribute to solutions that reflect our realities and ambitions.

Through RAJAPI-COP (Network of Young Africans Bringing Innovative Projects to the COPs on Climate, Biodiversity, and Desertification for Social Justice and Gender.), I work to empower young African changemakers by connecting them to opportunities, fostering climate entrepreneurship, and ensuring that their voices shape climate policies at national and global levels.

Looking forward to learning, sharing, and collaborating with you all! #RAJAPI-COP
#YouthForClimate #AfricanVoicesForClimateAction 🌍💡

Corporate Impact Showcase Non-profit Website in White Beige Style_20250109_143237_٠٠٠٠.pdf22.71 MB

Hello, I'm Gaston Alimasi, a young change agent from Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I'd like to thank you for this opportunity to take part in this crucial discussion. As a climate advocate, I would like to share my thoughts on the climate change needs of young people, based on the DRC's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The most pressing climate challenges for us young people include food insecurity linked to agriculture affected by climate variations, as well as water management, which is crucial for our communities. We advocate that these sectors be strengthened in the NDC, as they directly affect our daily lives.

However, our commitment is hampered by various obstacles, including a lack of recognition of our ability to contribute effectively and closed channels of communication between us and the government. To make NDCs more inclusive, it's essential to integrate our voice right from the policy-making stage, prioritizing our concerns and involving us in their implementation and monitoring.

Africa’s young people aren’t just waiting to inherit the future—we are already shaping it. With over 60% of the continent’s population under 25, any climate action plan that sidelines youth is like trying to light a jiko without charcoal—it just won’t work. Yet, when it comes to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), youth engagement often feels like an afterthought, a polite nod rather than a real handshake. If we’re going to talk about the future, we should at least get a proper seat at the table—preferably not at the kids’ section.

Now, take Kenya. Climate change isn’t some distant theory here; it’s a reality we live with every day. You don’t need a scientific report to see that our rains have become moody, coming late or ghosting us entirely. Rivers that once flowed reliably now play hide and seek, farmlands are drying up, and when it does rain, it floods like nature is trying to overcompensate. As someone who has spent time researching disease transmission patterns, I can tell you that climate change isn’t just about hot days and dry lands—it affects our health, food security, and livelihoods.

For young people, the biggest worry is food security. Agriculture is still our backbone, yet young farmers struggle to get support. If NDCs are to mean anything beyond fancy reports, they need to put young farmers at the center—not just with motivational speeches but with actual support like climate-resilient seeds, rainwater harvesting systems, and fair market access. A young farmer in Kitale or Makueni shouldn’t have to pray for miracles when what they need is solid investment in climate-smart agriculture. Imagine if we treated youth-led agribusinesses with the same energy we give to elections—now that would be real progress!

Then there’s energy. Kenya is a leader in renewable energy, but how many young people are actually leading in that space? Many are stuck with great ideas that never take off because getting funding feels like trying to convince your grandmother that Wi-Fi isn’t witchcraft. If we want to see real impact, the NDC process should prioritize breaking down financial barriers so that young entrepreneurs in Turkana or Kibera can scale their solar and biogas solutions instead of being left to “keep trying.”

Now, let’s talk about why more young people aren’t shaping NDCs. The barriers are everywhere—technical jargon that reads like an ancient scroll, consultation meetings that feel more like photo ops, and decision-making spaces that seem to have an invisible sign that says, “Adults Only.” If we’re serious about meaningful youth participation, we need to make the process accessible and practical. Let’s move beyond boardrooms in Nairobi and engage youth in places where climate change is hitting hardest. Because let’s be real—climate change doesn’t care whether you live in the city or the village; it affects young herders in Wajir, fishermen in Lamu, boda boda riders in Kisumu, and students in Garissa. If NDCs are meant to work for the people, then the people—including us young people—should be part of shaping them from the ground up.

And let’s be clear—youth don’t just want to “be heard.” We want to see actual change. If the government is serious about including young people, it should create platforms where we don’t just advise but co-lead. Schools should be teaching climate resilience alongside math, and national budgets should reflect investments in youth-led climate solutions, not just reports about “engaging young people.”

At the end of the day, young people in Africa are not looking for empty promises. We are already driving solutions—whether it’s through small-scale regenerative farming, community-led conservation, or clean energy startups. What we need is an NDC process that doesn’t just acknowledge us but actively invests in what we are already doing. As Sir. Mong’s, I’ve spent time in research, labs, and the field, and one thing is clear—young people are not the problem; we are the solution. If we get this right, we won’t just be responding to climate change—we’ll be building a future where Africa thrives despite it. And if anyone doubts that, well, they should come for Nyama Choma in Nanyuki and let’s discuss it properly!

J'ai une idée : une nouvelle plate-forme sur les réseaux sociaux peut etre créer (comme Tik Tok ou WhattApp) pour sensibiliser la population du monde en particulier les jeunes sur l'impact des actions individuelles sur le climat. Par delàs offrir des points à toute personnes qui partegera des actions innoventes qu'elle pose succeptible de lutter contre les changement néfaste climatique. Les points accumilés seront monétisés.

Hi everyone, I'm ZRA SINI from Cameroon 🇨🇲, I am YOUNGO member and I am active in NDC and adaptation working group. I am delighted to see everyone engaged here and I am looking forward to collaborating, learning from and exchanging experience with all.
Thank you so much.

Bonjour ;
El Habib DICKO, Président ADA -MALI

En tant que Président ADA - MALI, une organisation engagée dans le développement durable et l’entrepreneuriat, je considère que l’implication des jeunes dans les Contributions Déterminées au niveau National (CDN) est essentielle pour assurer un avenir durable à l’Afrique.
1. Priorités des jeunes et défis climatiques

-L'Afrique est confrontée à des défis climatiques majeurs, et la jeunesse en est directement impactée. Parmi les priorités que nous identifions à ADA - MALI, figurent :

-L’insécurité alimentaire et la désertification, qui menacent les communautés rurales et les systèmes agricoles.

- L’accès limité aux énergies renouvelables, alors que le potentiel solaire et biogaz est sous-exploité.

Le manque de formation et d’opportunités pour les jeunes, réduisant leur capacité à innover dans le domaine climatique.

ADA - MALI travaille activement sur ces enjeux, en soutenant des initiatives locales axées sur l’agriculture durable, les énergies renouvelables et la formation des jeunes entrepreneurs verts.

L’implication des jeunes dans l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des CDN reste limitée en raison de plusieurs barrières :

-Un manque d’accès aux informations et aux processus décisionnels, excluant de nombreux jeunes du dialogue sur le climat.

-L’absence de financements dédiés aux initiatives climatiques portées par des jeunes, limitant leur impact.

-Une faible collaboration entre les gouvernements et les jeunes acteurs du changement, réduisant leur capacité d’influence.

Pour lever ces obstacles, il est impératif d’ouvrir davantage d’espaces de consultation et d’échange entre les jeunes et les autorités.

Pour que les CDN intègrent pleinement les préoccupations et solutions des jeunes, nous proposons :

-La création de plateformes de dialogue entre les gouvernements et les organisations de jeunesse.

- L’intégration des jeunes dans les organes de décision climatique, en leur accordant une place formelle dans l’élaboration des politiques environnementales.

-Le renforcement des formations en gestion de projets climatiques, afin que les jeunes puissent contribuer efficacement à la mise en œuvre des CDN.

Chez ADA - MALI, nous croyons en une approche inclusive et participative, où les jeunes sont non seulement bénéficiaires mais aussi acteurs du changement climatique.

Pour garantir une réelle participation des jeunes aux CDN, il est essentiel de :
-Développer des mécanismes de financement adaptés, soutenant les projets climatiques portés par des jeunes entrepreneurs.
-Renforcer les synergies entre les ONG, le secteur privé et les institutions publiques, afin de maximiser l’impact des initiatives locales.
-Mettre en place des politiques incitatives, encourageant l’intégration des jeunes dans les stratégies climatiques nationales.
À ADA - MALI, nous nous engageons à poursuivre nos efforts pour accompagner les jeunes dans le développement de solutions durables et à plaider pour une meilleure prise en compte de leurs préoccupations dans les CDN.
Nous appelons donc les gouvernements, les partenaires techniques et financiers ainsi que les organisations internationales à renforcer leur appui aux initiatives portées par la jeunesse africaine dans la lutte contre le changement climatique.
« La jeunesse africaine est une force. Donnons-lui les moyens d’agir pour un avenir durable »

Voici des réponses détaillées aux questions posées :

*Priorités des jeunes et défis climatiques*

Les défis climatiques les plus urgents pour les jeunes de ma région sont :

1. L'accès à l'eau potable et à l'assainissement
2. La sécurité alimentaire et la souveraineté alimentaire
3. La protection des écosystèmes et de la biodiversité
4. L'accès à l'énergie renouvelable et à la mobilité durable

Les secteurs qui devraient être prioritaires pour répondre à leurs besoins sont :

1. L'éducation et la formation pour les compétences climatiques
2. L'agriculture durable et la sécurité alimentaire
3. L'énergie renouvelable et la mobilité durable
4. La gestion des ressources en eau et l'assainissement

*Obstacles à l'engagement significatif des jeunes dans les CDN*

Les principaux défis qui empêchent les jeunes de participer activement au processus des CDN sont :

1. Le manque d'information et de sensibilisation sur les CDN
2. Le manque d'accès aux ressources et aux financements
3. Le manque de représentation et de participation aux processus de décision
4. Les obstacles culturels et sociaux qui empêchent les jeunes de s'exprimer et de participer

Les obstacles entre la collaboration entre les jeunes et le gouvernement sont :

1. Le manque de confiance et de crédibilité entre les jeunes et le gouvernement
2. Le manque de communication et de coordination entre les jeunes et le gouvernement
3. Les différences de priorités et de valeurs entre les jeunes et le gouvernement

*Rendre les CDN plus inclusives et plus efficaces pour les jeunes*

Les CDN peuvent être conçues pour refléter véritablement les priorités des jeunes en :

1. Intégrant les jeunes dans les processus de décision et de planification
2. Prendre en compte les besoins et les priorités des jeunes dans les politiques et les programmes
3. Fournir des ressources et des financements pour soutenir les initiatives des jeunes

Les jeunes devraient jouer un rôle actif dans :

1. L'élaboration et la mise en œuvre des CDN
2. Le suivi et l'évaluation des CDN
3. La sensibilisation et la mobilisation des communautés pour soutenir les CDN

*Renforcer la participation des jeunes grâce au soutien, aux partenariats et aux réformes politiques*

Les politiques, ressources et partenariats nécessaires pour garantir une participation significative des jeunes aux CDN sont :

1. Des politiques et des programmes qui soutiennent les initiatives des jeunes
2. Des ressources et des financements pour soutenir les initiatives des jeunes
3. Des partenariats entre les jeunes, les gouvernements, les organisations de la société civile et le secteur privé

Les gouvernements et les parties prenantes peuvent mieux soutenir les jeunes en :

1. Fournissant des informations et des ressources pour soutenir les initiatives des jeunes
2. Créant des espaces pour les jeunes de participer aux processus de décision
3. Soutenant les initiatives des jeunes et en fournissant des ressources et des financements.

Greetings everyone, am Lavenda from Nairobi, Kenya, am a facilitator of a climate negotiation simulation program called Climate Mtaani. The main aim of this program is to bridge the gaps between the UNFCCC COPs and African youth, in order to inspire climate action in cities all over the country. This program takes the participants through the process of coming up with NDCs and also trains them to have a design thinking approach when coming up with solutions to the climate crisis. The simulation is designed in a way that countries have to state the years when their emissions are expected to peak and start reducing plus their reduction strategies, but we encourage our participants, who are mostly youth, to come up with African centered solutions that will not necessarily take us through the environmentally exploitative and unsustainable paths that the developed world took to get where they are now.
Such kinds of programs are necessary to empower and equip our African youth on NDC formulation.

Empowering youth to take the lead in climate-smart agriculture is crucial for a sustainable future! This topic highlights the importance of youth engagement in policy development and implementation. Let's work together to create a climate-resilient agriculture sector that benefits both people and the planet

Bonjour !
Je me nomme ZOMBRA Abasse. Je suis vétérinaire et je m'intéresse beaucoup aux questions de changements climatiques qui constituent un enjeu crucial pour la santé pulique et l'économie (perte de production, augmentations des épidémies animales et zoonoses, pression accrue sur les écosystèmes...).

Quels sont les principaux enjeux climatiques auxquels les jeunes sont confrontés au Burkina Faso ?

Les jeunes du Burkina Faso font face à plusieurs enjeux climatiques majeurs qui impactent leur avenir, leur santé, leur sécurité alimentaire et leurs opportunités économiques. Voici les principaux défis climatiques auxquels ils sont confrontés :

1. La désertification et la dégradation des terres :
Le Burkina Faso est fortement touché par la désertification, notamment dans les régions du Sahel. La déforestation, l'érosion des sols et la surexploitation des terres réduisent la productivité agricole, ce qui impacte directement les opportunités d'emploi des jeunes en milieu rural.

2. Les sécheresses récurrentes :
Les périodes de sécheresse sont de plus en plus fréquentes et longues, affectant l'accès à l'eau potable et la production agricole. Cela entraîne une insécurité alimentaire accrue et pousse de nombreux jeunes à migrer vers les villes ou d'autres pays en quête de meilleures conditions de vie.

3. Les inondations et événements climatiques extrêmes :
Paradoxalement, certaines régions du Burkina Faso sont aussi touchées par des inondations soudaines, en raison de précipitations intenses sur de courtes périodes. Ces inondations détruisent des infrastructures, des maisons et des cultures, fragilisant davantage les moyens de subsistance des jeunes.

4. L’insécurité alimentaire et la baisse des rendements agricoles :
Les changements climatiques affectent les saisons agricoles et réduisent les rendements des cultures vivrières (mil, sorgho, maïs) et du bétail. Les jeunes ruraux, souvent engagés dans l’agriculture et l’élevage, sont directement impactés par cette instabilité.

5. Les maladies à transmission vectorielle et hydrique :
Les modifications climatiques favorisent l’expansion des maladies sensibles aux variations de température et aux précipitations. La jeunesse est particulièrement vulnérable à ces maladies, qui affectent leur santé et leur productivité.

6. La raréfaction des ressources en eau :
L’accès à l’eau devient de plus en plus problématique, notamment dans les régions arides. Cela impacte non seulement l’agriculture, mais aussi la santé et l’hygiène des populations, avec un risque accru de conflits pour l’accès à cette ressource essentielle.

7. Le chômage et l’exode rural :
Avec la dégradation des conditions agricoles et la rareté des ressources naturelles, de nombreux jeunes sont contraints de quitter les campagnes pour chercher des opportunités en ville ou à l’étranger. Ce phénomène alimente le chômage urbain et accentue la précarité sociale.

Les priorités des jeunes au Burkina Faso sont-elles reflétées dans ces CDN?

Le rapport sur la Contribution Déterminée au niveau National (CDN) du Burkina Faso prend en compte certains enjeux qui concernent directement les jeunes, notamment à travers des mesures dans les secteurs de l'agriculture, de la foresterie et de l'emploi. Voici quelques points clés :

1. Agriculture et emploi des jeunes : Le rapport mentionne explicitement que l’accroissement de la productivité agricole et des revenus sur une base durable bénéficie aux exploitants, y compris les jeunes et les femmes. Il est également prévu la création d’emplois verts, qui peuvent offrir des opportunités aux jeunes​.

2. Formation et renforcement des capacités : La CDN prévoit des actions de formation et d’éducation pour renforcer la résilience face aux changements climatiques. Ce volet est crucial pour les jeunes, qui doivent être outillés pour jouer un rôle actif dans la transition écologique​.

3. Accès aux ressources et inclusion des jeunes : Dans le secteur de la foresterie et de l’agriculture, des projets visent à restaurer les terres dégradées et à renforcer la résilience des ménages, ce qui peut offrir des opportunités aux jeunes agriculteurs et entrepreneurs​.

Cependant, bien que ces mesures puissent indirectement bénéficier aux jeunes, il n’apparaît pas de stratégie spécifique visant leur engagement direct ou leur participation active à l’élaboration et à la mise en œuvre des politiques climatiques. Un renforcement de l’inclusion des jeunes dans les prises de décision et l’accès aux financements climatiques pourrait être une piste d’amélioration.

Qu'est-ce qui empêche les jeunes de s'impliquer dans les processus de CDN ?

L'implication des jeunes dans les processus de la Contribution Déterminée au niveau National (CDN) du Burkina Faso est limitée par plusieurs facteurs structurels et contextuels. Voici les principaux obstacles :

1. Manque de sensibilisation et d’information :
Beaucoup de jeunes ne sont pas suffisamment informés sur les CDN, leurs enjeux et les opportunités qu’elles représentent pour eux. L’accès à l’information sur les politiques climatiques reste limité, notamment en zone rurale, où vit une grande partie de la jeunesse burkinabè.

2. Faible prise en compte des jeunes dans les processus décisionnels :
Les mécanismes de gouvernance climatique sont souvent dominés par des acteurs gouvernementaux, des experts et des institutions internationales, laissant peu de place aux jeunes. Le rapport CDN du Burkina Faso mentionne l'implication de plusieurs parties prenantes (secteur privé, ONG, ministères, etc.), mais ne met pas en avant un cadre structuré pour l’engagement des jeunes dans l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des actions climatiques​.

3. Accès limité aux financements et aux ressources :
Les jeunes, en particulier ceux engagés dans l’agriculture, l’entrepreneuriat vert ou des projets communautaires, ont du mal à accéder aux financements climatiques et aux subventions pour mettre en place des initiatives durables. Les fonds de la CDN sont souvent attribués à des projets de grande envergure portés par des institutions publiques ou des ONG internationales.

4. Insuffisance de formation et de renforcement des capacités
La transition écologique nécessite des compétences techniques spécifiques (agroécologie, gestion des énergies renouvelables, cartographie des risques climatiques, etc.) que peu de jeunes maîtrisent en raison d’un manque de programmes de formation adaptés. Il existe des initiatives de renforcement des capacités dans la CDN, mais elles ne ciblent pas directement la jeunesse​.

5. Contraintes socio-économiques :
Le chômage et la précarité économique poussent de nombreux jeunes à privilégier des opportunités immédiates de revenus plutôt que de s’investir dans des processus politiques et climatiques dont les bénéfices sont souvent à long terme. L’exode rural et l’insécurité dans certaines régions réduisent leur possibilité de participer aux consultations et aux projets locaux.

6. Manque de plateformes et de structures de coordination :
Il n’existe pas de structures formelles et inclusives permettant aux jeunes de s’exprimer et d’influencer les décisions climatiques. Peu d’espaces de dialogue sont créés entre les décideurs politiques et la jeunesse sur les questions environnementales et climatiques.

Comment surmonter ces défis ?

- Créer des cadres de dialogue dédiés : Mettre en place des conseils jeunesse-climat pour associer activement les jeunes à l’élaboration et au suivi des CDN.

- Renforcer l’éducation et la sensibilisation : Intégrer les enjeux climatiques dans les programmes scolaires et développer des formations spécialisées.

- Faciliter l’accès aux financements : Développer des fonds spécifiques pour soutenir les initiatives climatiques portées par les jeunes.

- Promouvoir l’engagement communautaire : Encourager l’implication des jeunes dans des projets locaux de reforestation, d’agriculture durable et d’énergie propre.

En intégrant pleinement la jeunesse dans la gouvernance climatique, le Burkina Faso pourrait renforcer l’efficacité et l’impact de sa CDN tout en offrant aux jeunes des opportunités économiques et sociales 😊

# Designing NDCs with Youth Priorities
1. Youth-led consultations: Conduct nationwide consultations with youth representatives to gather their inputs, concerns, and ideas on climate change and agriculture.
2. Inclusive stakeholder engagement: Ensure that youth organizations, networks, and groups are part of the NDC development process, alongside government agencies, civil society, and private sector stakeholders.
3. Youth-focused climate assessments: Conduct climate vulnerability assessments and impact studies that specifically consider the effects of climate change on youth, their livelihoods, and their futures.
4. Integrate youth priorities: Incorporate youth-identified priorities, such as education, employment, and health, into the NDC's adaptation and mitigation strategies.

# Roles for Young People in Shaping and Implementing NDCs
1. Youth ambassadors: Appoint youth ambassadors to champion climate action and NDC implementation at the national, regional, and local levels.
2. Participatory budgeting: Involve youth in participatory budgeting processes to ensure that climate finance allocations reflect their priorities and needs.
3. Capacity building and training: Provide young people with training, capacity-building programs, and mentorship opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge in climate-smart agriculture, policy development, and implementation.
4. Monitoring and evaluation: Engage youth in monitoring and evaluating NDC implementation, ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
5. Innovative solutions: Encourage young people to develop innovative solutions, such as climate-resilient agricultural practices, climate information services, and green entrepreneurship initiatives.
6. Inter-generational dialogue: Facilitate inter-generational dialogue and knowledge sharing between youth, policymakers, and other stakeholders to ensure that NDCs reflect the needs and aspirations of both present and future generations.

Bonjour à tous. Je m'appelle TOG-ALLAH Djimadoumbaye. De nationalité tchadienne, suis Nutritionniste de formation et Activiste environnemental. En ce qui concerne le Tchad, nous sommes confrontés à des défis climatiques urgents qui menacent notre société. La désertification, accélérée par les changements climatiques, réduisant les terres arables et aggravant l'insécurité alimentaire. Les sécheresses récurrentes affectent les récoltes, l'élevage et l'assèchement des lacs et rivières, principales sources de revenus pour de nombreuses familles. Pour garantir une participation significative des jeunes aux Contributions déterminées au niveau national (CDN), Le gouvernement doit créer des mécanismes inclusifs, tels que des comités consultatifs de jeunesse, pour intégrer les jeunes Tchadiens dans les processus de décision, faciliter l’accès à l’information via des plateformes numériques et des campagnes de sensibilisation adaptées, des formations sur les enjeux climatiques et les plaidoyers doivent être offertes aux jeunes pour renforcer leurs capacités. Des financements dédiés aux initiatives climatiques portées par les jeunes et à leur participation aux consultations nationales et internationales sont essentiels. En soutenant activement ces mesures, le gouvernement peut renforcer l’engagement des jeunes et garantir des CDN plus efficaces et inclusives. Merci

Hello everyone

My name is Ikechukwu Solomon Obiora, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be here among such passionate changemakers. As the founder of the NextGen Changemakers Initiative, I’ve dedicated my work to empowering young people across Africa to take the lead in climate action and sustainable development. There’s something truly energizing about being in a space where we’re not just talking about change but actively shaping it—especially when it comes to youth engagement in NDCs.

Africa’s youth are not just the future; we’re the "now"—bringing innovation, urgency, and unmatched energy to the climate movement. Yet, too often, our voices are sidelined in critical decision-making spaces. That’s why discussions like this matter. Whether it’s advocating for inclusive NDC processes, sharing successful models of youth-led climate projects, or tackling barriers like funding and policy access, I’m here to learn, collaborate, and push for tangible progress.

I’m particularly excited to hear from all of you—your experiences, challenges, and bold ideas. How can we, as a collective, ensure that youth aren’t just invited to the table but are leading the conversation on NDCs? Let’s dive in and turn dialogue into action.

Greetings everyone, I am John Siakulue from Liberia, a Physician Assistant by profession. I am a facilitator on climate change and health.
Climate change is an emerging challenge for public health in Liberia, with impacts already being felt in various sectors, including agriculture, water supply, disease patterns, and overall livelihoods. Liberia is particularly vulnerable due to its geographical location, exposure to tropical weather, and underdeveloped infrastructure. The relationship between climate change and health is a significant issue that requires focused attention to ensure the well-being of the population.
Here’s a deeper look at how climate change affects health in Liberia:
1. Impact of Climate Change on Health in Liberia:
• Vector-borne Diseases:
• Malaria: Warmer temperatures and changing rainfall patterns can create favorable conditions for the mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Liberia, and climate change could expand the transmission season or range of the disease.
• Dengue and Yellow Fever: Increased temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns may also increase the risk of dengue and yellow fever, diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, especially in urban areas where sanitation may be inadequate.
• Waterborne Diseases:
• Cholera, Typhoid, and Diarrhea: Heavy rainfall and flooding can overwhelm sanitation systems, leading to the contamination of water sources. This increases the risk of waterborne diseases, which are common in areas with poor access to clean water and sanitation.
• Heat-related Illnesses:
• Heat Stress and Dehydration: Rising temperatures and extended hot periods could cause heat stress, dehydration, and other heat-related illnesses, especially in urban areas and regions with inadequate cooling infrastructure.
• Food Security and Malnutrition:
• Disruption of Agriculture: Erratic rainfall and droughts can reduce agricultural productivity, leading to food shortages and higher food prices. This puts pressure on the nutritional status of populations, especially children and pregnant women, increasing the risk of malnutrition.
• Psychological and Mental Health:
• Climate Change-induced Disasters: Liberia’s exposure to extreme weather events like floods and hurricanes can lead to displacement, loss of homes, and livelihoods, increasing stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

2. Vulnerability of Liberia’s Population:
• Coastal Communities: Liberia’s coastline is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and coastal erosion, threatening the livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing and agriculture. These populations face displacement, loss of resources, and health risks.
• Rural Areas: Many rural populations depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, making them highly vulnerable to changes in rainfall and temperature. These regions often lack access to adequate healthcare, exacerbating the impacts of climate-related health risks.
• Low-income Groups: Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and low-income households, are disproportionately affected by climate-related health threats due to limited access to resources, healthcare, and education.

3. Climate Change Adaptation and Health Strategies:
• Strengthening Health Systems: Improving healthcare infrastructure and making it resilient to climate change is crucial. This includes ensuring that health facilities are well-equipped to handle climate-induced disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.
• Early Warning Systems: Implementing early warning systems for climate-related health threats, such as outbreaks of malaria or cholera, can help authorities respond quickly and reduce health impacts.
• Vector Control Programs: Expanding and enhancing vector control efforts, including mosquito control programs, can reduce the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue.
• Water and Sanitation Improvements: Addressing water and sanitation infrastructure to cope with changing rainfall patterns can reduce the spread of waterborne diseases. This includes providing safe drinking water and improving waste management systems.
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Supporting farmers with climate-resilient crop varieties, irrigation systems, and better farming practices can help safeguard food security and prevent malnutrition.
• Community Education and Engagement: Raising awareness in communities about the health risks of climate change and involving them in adaptation planning can increase resilience at the local level.

4. Key Partners for Addressing Climate and Health Issues in Liberia:
• Liberian Government: The Ministries of Health and Environment, alongside disaster management agencies, play a vital role in addressing the health impacts of climate change.
• International Organizations: WHO, UNDP, and other global health organizations provide technical support and funding for climate-health projects in Liberia.
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Local and international NGOs focused on public health, environmental protection, and disaster management can support community-based interventions.
• Academic Institutions: Universities and research institutes can help with data collection, monitoring climate-health trends, and developing evidence-based strategies.

5. Policy and Advocacy:
• National Climate Policy: Liberia’s climate change adaptation policies should integrate health considerations, ensuring that public health systems are designed to respond to climate-related threats.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing climate change and health is central to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Conclusion:

As Liberia faces increasing climate-related health challenges, it is essential for the government, international agencies, and local communities to work together to mitigate risks and build resilience. Investing in health system strengthening, infrastructure, early warning systems, and education will be crucial in safeguarding the health of Liberia’s population against the impacts of climate change.

hey all, this is Muhamedi RADJABU BITEKO I am a passionate advocate for sustainable development and climate resilience, currently living in Goma, North Kivu, where the intersection between ongoing conflict and urgent environmental challenges manifests itself. I have a strong commitment to fair and sustainable access, which is why I take the lead on educational programs that combat digital illiteracy and bridge service and skill access within marginalized communities, especially among young people, women and graduates.
One of our proudest contributions during the M23 crisis was starting a tree planting initiative in Goma in which we planted more than 500 trees. Not only did this initiative support reforestation efforts, it also included workshops where residents learned how trees combat climate change, filter pollution, and improve biodiversity. Seeing the community unify for this cause solidified my faith in the magnitude of incremental environmental change achieved through community collaboration.
My organization, along with Oxfam and RCC RDC, has joined forces to raise awareness around regional climate issues, as well as give a voice to the Democratic Republic of the Congo voice at COP20. I also created a digital skills initiative that upskilled more than 500 people on basics of crisis response including data collection and analysis and coached many in how to apply for roles with reputable organizations like Google and Microsoft.
I look forward to working alongside fellow changemakers as part of the Youth4Capacity programme to tackle the specific challenges facing our african regions. I feel our mutual dedication and creativity will help find impactful solutions for sustainable growth and resilience.

Hello my name is Gloria Musambi, a student and advocate from Zambia.
In Zambia climate change has affected our lives especially especially the 2023-2024 period when we had drought which had a great impact on our agriculture , economy, power generation system. Implementing climate resilience strategies on agricultural practices and supporting small farmers can improve food security and improvement of water management and conservation can help mitigate drought and flood .And currently (2025), Zambia has experienced floods which have destroyed many communities exposing the communities to waterborne diseases and spreading other diseases in general .
Young people in Zambia lack training and resources which makes it difficult to participate in NDCs , one cannot take part in something they have little to no knowledge about, and when it comes to these issues we young people often rely on the internet to educate us of which some information we can find on the internet might be irrelevant but we will still take it and think it is the correct information because we lack proper guidance.

Greetings colleagues,

I am Christopher Munashe Chinyoka, a Field Officer at the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers’ Forum (ZIMSOFF), where I work closely with smallholder farmers to promote agroecology, sustainable land use, and food sovereignty. With a background in History and International Studies, I have spent the past three years engaging communities in climate resilience initiatives, sustainable agriculture, and policy advocacy.

My work involves mobilizing grassroots communities, facilitating climate education programs, and advocating for policies that support smallholder farmers in adapting to climate change. I have led initiatives on soil health, traditional seed conservation, and climate-smart agriculture, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge in shaping sustainable food systems.
I am particularly passionate about strengthening smallholder farmers’ role in NDC implementation, ensuring that their voices are heard in climate negotiations and policymaking. I look forward to collaborating with like-minded professionals in this working group to advance Africa’s climate goals through inclusive and locally driven solutions.

I am eager to contribute my experience in climate adaptation, agroecology, and community resilience while learning from the diverse expertise within this platform.

Inputs on Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges in Maiduguri, Borno State,Nigeria,West Africa

1. Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges

Young people in Maiduguri,Nigeria face significant climate challenges that require urgent attention. The most pressing issues include:

Desertification & Deforestation: The rapid loss of vegetation due to human activities and climate change exacerbates desertification, affecting agriculture and livelihoods.

Flooding: Recent severe floods have destroyed homes and taken lives, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children, women, and persons with disabilities.

Lack of Environmental Awareness: Many young people lack adequate knowledge of climate change, limiting their ability to take action.

Employment & Education Gaps: Climate challenges also affect job opportunities, making it harder for young people to secure sustainable livelihoods. Additionally, many lack access to quality education.

Limited Political Participation & Youth Movements: Young voices are often excluded from decision-making processes regarding climate policies.

Inadequate Climate Education & Training: There is a severe lack of institutions and mentorship programs focused on climate change and environmental issues.

Cultural Taboos: Some traditional beliefs discourage youth from engaging in environmental activism.

2. Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs

Key obstacles preventing young people from engaging in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) include:

Education & Awareness: Many young people lack knowledge of climate policies and how they can participate.

Limited Support & Training: Insufficient mentorship, resources, and training programs hinder youth engagement.

Government Barriers: There is a lack of collaboration between government institutions and youth-led initiatives.

Exclusive Environments: Many decision-making spaces are not youth-friendly or inclusive.

Financial Constraints: Without proper funding, young changemakers struggle to implement their climate initiatives.

Policy Gaps: Weak laws and lack of enforcement make it difficult for youth to influence climate action.

Social & Cultural Barriers: Parents, peers, and traditions sometimes discourage youth from engaging in environmental activism.

3. Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful

To ensure that NDCs reflect youth priorities and create real impact, the following strategies should be adopted:

Government Accountability: Youth should put pressure on officials to commit to climate action.

Awareness & Mobilization: Expanding climate education through schools, social media, and community engagement.

Inclusivity: Ensuring young people are given decision-making roles in climate policies.

Leveraging Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok can be used for climate advocacy.

Grassroots Engagement: Organizing campaigns, mentorship programs, and local sustainability projects.

Policy Development: Advocating for stronger climate policies that address youth concerns.

Creative Advocacy: Using poetry, drama, music, and cultural events to spread climate messages.

Engaging Traditional & Religious Leaders: Gaining their support can help overcome cultural barriers.

4. Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships & Policy Reforms

To ensure meaningful youth participation in NDCs, governments and stakeholders should:

Provide Training & Awareness: Organizing workshops, seminars, and social gatherings to educate youth on climate issues.

Offer Financial & Institutional Support: Grants, mentorship, and scholarships for young climate activists.

Ensure Youth Involvement in Decision-Making: Youth representatives should be included in climate policy discussions.

Strengthen Community Engagement: Partnering with local organizations and leaders to promote sustainability.

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Soutenez ma page Facebook svp

Hi everyone,
My name is Perpetual from Ghana.
As a young African researcher and advocate passionate about food security, sustainable agriculture, and plant-pathogen interactions, I see firsthand how climate change is threatening livelihoods, especially for young people. In my region, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and increasing pest and disease pressures are making agriculture our primary source of income and food more vulnerable. These challenges directly affect food security, employment opportunities, and the overall well-being of young people, yet their voices are often overlooked in climate policy discussions.
One of the biggest barriers preventing youth from actively participating in the NDC process is the lack of structured engagement and awareness. Many young people are unaware of what NDCs are or how they can contribute. Even when youth-led initiatives are at the forefront of climate solutions through sustainable farming practices, renewable energy projects, and biodiversity conservation funding constraints and bureaucratic hurdles make it difficult to scale these solutions. Additionally, decision-making spaces often exclude young voices, making it hard for youth perspectives to be integrated into climate policies.
To make NDCs more youth-inclusive and impactful, we need systematic and institutionalized youth participation. Governments should establish youth advisory boards to ensure young people contribute meaningfully to the development, implementation, and monitoring of NDCs. Youth-driven innovation must also be recognized and supported through funding, capacity development, and mentorship programs that equip young changemakers with the resources they need to implement sustainable solutions.
Strengthening youth participation requires a multi-stakeholder approach. Climate education should be integrated into school curricula to build awareness from an early age. Governments, research institutions, and private organizations must work together to create funding opportunities, incubation hubs, and job pathways for young people in climate-related fields. Technology and social media can be leveraged to amplify youth-led advocacy and facilitate knowledge sharing across countries.
Young people are not just the future; they are the present. If African nations are to meet their climate commitments and build a resilient future, youth must be recognized as partners in action, not just beneficiaries of policies. By integrating youth voices into NDCs and providing the necessary support, we can transform climate challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.
As a young African researcher and advocate passionate about food security, sustainable agriculture, and plant-pathogen interactions, I see firsthand how climate change is threatening livelihoods, especially for young people. In my region, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and increasing pest and disease pressures are making agriculture our primary source of income and food more vulnerable. These challenges directly affect food security, employment opportunities, and the overall well-being of young people, yet their voices are often overlooked in climate policy discussions.
One of the biggest barriers preventing youth from actively participating in the NDC process is the lack of structured engagement and awareness. Many young people are unaware of what NDCs are or how they can contribute. Even when youth-led initiatives are at the forefront of climate solutions through sustainable farming practices, renewable energy projects, and biodiversity conservation funding constraints and bureaucratic hurdles make it difficult to scale these solutions. Additionally, decision-making spaces often exclude young voices, making it hard for youth perspectives to be integrated into climate policies.
To make NDCs more youth-inclusive and impactful, we need systematic and institutionalized youth participation. Governments should establish youth advisory boards to ensure young people contribute meaningfully to the development, implementation, and monitoring of NDCs. Youth-driven innovation must also be recognized and supported through funding, capacity development, and mentorship programs that equip young changemakers with the resources they need to implement sustainable solutions.
Strengthening youth participation requires a multi-stakeholder approach. Climate education should be integrated into school curricula to build awareness from an early age. Governments, research institutions, and private organizations must work together to create funding opportunities, incubation hubs, and job pathways for young people in climate-related fields. Technology and social media can be leveraged to amplify youth-led advocacy and facilitate knowledge sharing across countries.
Young people are not just the future; they are the present. If African nations are to meet their climate commitments and build a resilient future, youth must be recognized as partners in action, not just beneficiaries of policies. By integrating youth voices into NDCs and providing the necessary support, we can transform climate challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.

Bonsoir à tous j'espère que vous avez bien, j'aimerais postuler pour la solution 2025 mais j'ai de soucis quelqu'un peut m'aider ?

Good day, everyone. Nice connecting with y'all.

Bonsoir Tout le monde
Je me nomme Claude Kevin TCHOUAGA originaire du Cameroun , je suis un agronome , activiste environnemental et défenserur du climat , je suis membre fondateurs de l association Young Protectors of Environment qui est une association à but non lucrative formée et dirigée par des jeunes ,diversifiée et inclusive nous nous sommes donnés pour objectif de :
- Protéger l'environnement
- promouvoir l'agriculture durable
- Défendre le climat

Dont la Devise est : " *Agir aujourd'hui pour préserver demain* "
Si on donne les moyens ( formation, sensibilisation, accompagnement technique et matériel ) ils pourront faires pleine de choses positives pour la préservation de notre environnement en bonne santé car si nous ne faisons rien cela va compromettre notre vie et celles des générations qui viendront âpres nous .
Je suis toujours ravi de faire partie de cette communauté, ensemble nous y arriverons.

Hello, my name is Norah John from Tanzania.
As a young Tanzanian, I believe that involving youth in our country’s NDC process is key to building a sustainable future. We bring energy, innovation, and a strong commitment to climate action. By including us, Tanzania can strengthen its climate goals, create green jobs, and ensure that solutions reflect the real needs of our communities. Our voices matter, and our involvement will drive lasting change.Looking forward to contribute more..

Hello everyone. I am Akiror Brenda from Uganda. My work is majorly environmental conservation through tree planting and regular clean up programs. I am so glad to conmect with you all.

For youth to meaningfully participate in climate governance and NDC implementation, targeted support is necessary. Key actions include:

- Policy Reforms: Institutionalize youth participation in national climate policies by mandating youth quotas or advisory councils within climate bodies.
- Strategic Partnerships: Facilitate collaborations between youth groups, government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector to co-implement NDC-related projects.
- Funding and Resources: Establish youth climate funds and provide technical support to incubate scalable, youth-led green enterprises, this is very required
- Monitoring and Accountability Roles: Empower youth as local climate monitors who track the progress of NDC implementation, ensuring transparency and grassroots feedback, things can change.

True sustainability is only achieved when projects integrate all three pillars (economic, environmental, and social). Malawi's current overreliance on environmental and social solutions, such as tree planting, without offering sustainable economic alternatives to deforesters, creates an imbalance. By introducing economic incentives like horticulture and aquaculture, we not only reduce deforestation but also promote meaningful youth engagement in climate action HOW?= They will not be involved in unsustainable practices like charcoal burning they will be busy running the introduced sustainable alternative livelihood

To build a resilient and sustainable future, Malawi must recognize the central role of young people (not just as beneficiaries but as planners, implementers, and watchdogs of climate commitments. A youth-inclusive NDC process is not only equitable,it is essential.

Just to share a case in malawi wish to receive some ideas,
In Malawi, approximately 90% of young people lack awareness about Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the true meaning of sustainability. Because understanding NDC can help many to understand Sustainability and all its pillars. Many projects implemented in the country focus on only two of the three pillars of sustainability (environmental and social) while neglecting the economic aspect. A prime example is tree-planting initiatives, which aim to combat deforestation. However, the rate of deforestation significantly outpaces the rate of tree growth, rendering these efforts insufficient, because people are poor cutting down trees for fuel yet its only cheaper source of energy they cant afford other sources.
To achieve true sustainability, all three pillars (economy, environment, and society) must be integrated into projects. For instance, instead of solely focusing on planting trees, sustainable alternative livelihoods should be provided to individuals engaged in deforestation. By offering economic opportunities such as horticulture and sustainable aquaculture, we can encourage people to shift from destructive practices to productive, long-term enterprises.
This approach ensures that reforestation efforts are effective, as fewer trees will be cut down. Consequently, the rate of tree growth will exceed the rate of deforestation, leading to tangible environmental benefits while simultaneously improving economic and social conditions.
If you have suggestions or know of other projects that successfully integrate all three sustainability pillars, I would appreciate your insights members.

we can connect on linked in via www.linkedin.com/in/happier-khunga-602761270

Hi Family I am Happier Khunga,
In Malawi, the youth (who make up a significant portion of the population) face increasing climate-related challenges that affect their livelihoods, education, health, and future stability. The most pressing climate issues include:
- Lack of sustainable economic opportunities, pushing many youths into unsustainable practices such as charcoal burning and illegal logging.
- Limited access to climate education, particularly around concepts like the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social, and they dont understand the benefit of protecting the environment and how connected it is to people that affecting one affects all.

To address these challenges, Malawi must prioritize the following sectors:
- Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture: Supporting youth-led farming initiatives that are resilient to climate change considering those who do charcoal burning so that they can have sustainable alternative livehood.
- Education and Climate Awareness: Incorporating climate literacy, including NDCs and sustainability principles, into formal and informal education systems so that many can understand one health approach.

Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs
Despite being highly vulnerable to climate impacts, youth in Malawi are often excluded from decision-making processes related to climate policy and NDCs. Key barriers include:

- Lack of Awareness: Approximately 90% of youth in Malawi are unaware of NDCs or their role in national climate commitments.
- Limited Platforms for Engagement: Youth voices are often not represented in national dialogues, consultations, or NDC drafting sessions.
- Weak Collaboration Mechanisms: There is a noticeable gap between youth-led organizations and government institutions, leading to a lack of trust and limited coordination because government dont motivates youths with any rewards so many youths see it boring to work with government organisations or to be an activist (its connected to the following point ofcourse
- Resource Constraints: This is a major issue actually, Youth initiatives often lack funding, mentorship, and technical support to meaningfully contribute to climate action, many education and awareneses require transport costs and other costs that needs funds yet many youth don't have the funds

To make NDCs truly reflective of youth priorities and potential, they must be co-created with young people and include clear roles for their involvement. Key strategies include:

- Youth Inclusion in Policy Design: Ensure youth representatives are part of the national committees or technical working groups involved in NDC revision and implementation.
- Mainstreaming Youth Priorities: Embed youth-led climate solutions(such as sustainable horticulture, aquaculture, and green entrepreneurship) into NDC action plans.
- Localizing NDCs: Translate national climate commitments into locally-led actions where youth can take leadership, especially in rural communities.
- Education and Capacity Building: Empower young people with knowledge on NDCs, climate science, and project development so they can participate from an informed position (formally and informally)

For youth to meaningfully participate in climate governance and NDC implementation, targeted support is necessary. Key actions include:

- Policy Reforms: Institutionalize youth participation in national climate policies by mandating youth quotas or advisory councils within climate bodies.
- Strategic Partnerships: Facilitate collaborations between youth groups, government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector to co-implement NDC-related projects.
- Funding and Resources: Establish youth climate funds and provide technical support to incubate scalable, youth-led green enterprises, this is very required
- Monitoring and Accountability Roles: Empower youth as local climate monitors who track the progress of NDC implementation, ensuring transparency and grassroots feedback, things can change.

True sustainability is only achieved when projects integrate all three pillars (economic, environmental, and social). Malawi's current overreliance on environmental and social solutions, such as tree planting, without offering sustainable economic alternatives to deforesters, creates an imbalance. By introducing economic incentives like horticulture and aquaculture, we not only reduce deforestation but also promote meaningful youth engagement in climate action HOW?= They will not be involved in unsustainable practices like charcoal burning they will be busy running the introduced sustainable alternative livelihood

To build a resilient and sustainable future, Malawi must recognize the central role of young people (not just as beneficiaries but as planners, implementers, and watchdogs of climate commitments. A youth-inclusive NDC process is not only equitable,it is essential.

Hello everyone, my name is Wubnyonga Albertine Kaba from Cameroon. An environmental engineer/Solar Tech and I am glad to be here. As an Environmentalist and a Clean Energy enthusiast, I have noticed that the most pressing climate challenges for Youths in my community is access to affordable clean energy for cooking and education, food insecurity, flooding and droughts. These problems have displaced a lot of youths and I think the educational sector should be used to address these problems by educating and creating awareness on how to adapt to these changes.

The key challenges preventing young people from actively participating in the NDC process to me is just lack of resources and knowledge. There are many people who have ideas, initiative but don't know how to go about them, so they just lock it in. We young people lack the resources and also the follow up we need to create impact and make a change.

The barriers between we young people in my community and the government is lack of representation and decision making. We also have a problem of trust and access to information and resources. With all these shortcomings, no matter the brilliant solution you have for a problem, just remains with you as an idea, and you never get the chance to see it through.

We just want our opinion to count. We want our voices heard, not only heard but put into consideration and actions taken to genuinely reflect our priorities.

Au Cameroun en général et à maroua dans l'extrême nord nous avons pris l'initiative de faire le reboisement pour intitulé maroua ville verte. Nous avons commencé cette activité depuis l'année 2024 jusqu'à maintenant on na pas baisé les bras. Les jeunes des plusieurs associations travail tous en étroite collaboration. Actuellement nous avons plusieurs pipenieres à seront un peu grand dans un mois pour le planter dans des endroits clé pour la protection de l'environnement.

Exciting!
We’re proud to be part of the African Regional Consultations on Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions)—a vital space for young voices to shape climate action across the continent.

This is a chance for youth to share their perspectives, influence policies, and ensure their contributions are truly reflected in climate commitments.

Let’s lead the change we want to see. Youth power is climate power!

#YouthClimateAction #NDCs #AfricaYouth #MeaningfulEngagement

1. The most pressing climate challenges for young people in Ghana include flooding, erosion, and water insecurity, which impact their livelihoods and future prospects.

2. The key challenges preventing young people from actively participating in the NDC process are limited awareness, insufficient capacity, and limited intergenerational collaboration.

3. To genuinely reflect youth priorities, NDCs should involve young people in decision-making processes, prioritize youth-focused initiatives, and foster intergenerational collaboration.

4. To ensure meaningful youth participation in NDCs, governments and stakeholders should provide capacity-building programs, establish youth-focused platforms, and foster partnerships and collaborations to support youth-led climate initiatives.

Bonjour je suis heureux de me retrouver parmi les personnes qui partagent les mêmes visions sur les questions climatiques.
Je suis KOULENODJI Bruno, étudiantes tchadien en sciences informatiques et acteur climatique. Par ailleurs Coordonnateur de Youth4Climate-Tchad.

Bonsoir à tous bien aux nouveaux membres.

Bonjour à tous, je suis Emmanuel MAMPOSSI, habitant au Congo Brazzaville. je suis Agripreneur et j'exerce dans l'agriculture durable , un domaine de lequel je suis autodidacte à 60%.
je suis content d'avoir découvert la plateforme youth4climate ainsi que les CDN. En réalité depuis quelques le Congo subit quelques changements climatiques notamment des fortes chaleurs et une perturbations météorologiques. Bien que notre pays fait parti du Bassin du Congo, c'est avec étonnement que j'ai remarqué qu'il n'était pas épargné par le réchauffement climatique.
En outre les exploitations minières entraînent la destruction des forets et en conséquence l’augmentation des GES; Mais aussi,les populations autochtones sont directement touchées par ces pratiques. la mise en ouvre des politiques pour le reboisement ou la création des espaces vertes dans ces zones demeure un défi majeur pour le gouvernement.
1)Aujourd'hui le secteur agricole en milieu jeune est touché par le changement climatique( manque de pluie, bouleversement saisonnière) qui affectent la production locale et cause une hausse de prix des denrées alimentaires sur le marché/ il faut donc s'adapter pour pouvoir faire face à ces changements mais le manque de formation et de financement incitent les jeunes à abandonner le secteur agricole.
Pour ma part par exemple: je construit des serres locales pour produire en hors sol et à contre saison/ ce sont des techniques qui ne sont pas assez connus et pratiqués au Congo.
2) je crois que les jeunes ne sont pas assez informés sur les questions du climats; la gouvernance politique sur le climat est plus axé vers l’extérieur;

3) la sensibilisation devrait un pilier pour intéresser la jeunesse; ainsi que la formation des leaders sur les questions de l'environnement.

Merci!

I am Safiatou Youssouf Coulibaly, an ambitious and environmentally-conscious individual from Mali.
Young people in Mali and across West Africa are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, yet they are also powerful agents of change. As the largest demographic group, youth face multiple climate-related challenges that threaten their future, from rising unemployment and food insecurity to limited access to clean energy and education. To effectively address their needs and harness their potential, it is crucial to prioritize the sectors most affected by climate change and create inclusive, youth-centered solutions within national climate policies such as the NDCs.
Most Pressing Climate Challenges for Youth:
1. Unemployment – Climate change is disrupting key economic sectors like agriculture, reducing job opportunities for young people.
2. Food and Water Insecurity – Droughts, desertification, and erratic rainfall threaten agricultural productivity and access to clean water.
3. Electricity Shortages – Many rural and peri-urban areas lack reliable electricity, limiting education, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.
4. Lack of Climate Education – Youth often lack access to climate-related information, tools, and training needed for engagement.
5. Forced Migration – Environmental degradation and conflict over resources are forcing many young people to leave their communities.
6. Health Risks – Rising temperatures and pollution increase the spread of diseases such as malaria and waterborne illnesses.
Priority Sectors to Address Youth Needs:
1. Agriculture and Food Security
• Promote climate-smart agriculture, agroecology, and youth-led agribusiness.
• Support access to land, finance, and training for young farmers.
2. Renewable Energy and Electricity Access
• Expand off-grid and solar energy access in rural areas.
• Support youth-led clean energy initiatives and green job creation.
3. Water Resource Management
• Invest in sustainable water infrastructure and rainwater harvesting.
• Engage youth in water conservation and watershed protection programs.
4. Education and Skills Development
• Integrate climate change into formal education and vocational training.
• Provide capacity-building in climate innovation and entrepreneurship.
5. Health and Climate Resilience
• Strengthen health systems to cope with climate-related risks.
• Promote awareness campaigns on health and hygiene in changing climates.
6. Urban Planning and Waste Management
• Involve youth in creating greener cities and circular economy models.
• Support eco-initiatives in recycling, clean transport, and urban farming.
Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs:
1. Lack of Recognition and Inclusion: Youth are often overlooked in climate policy processes.
2. Limited Access to Information and Education: Insufficient climate change education prevents active youth participation.
3. Structural and Institutional Barriers: Youth organizations lack the resources and institutional support to engage effectively.
4. Lack of Representation in Decision-Making: Youth voices are underrepresented in high-level discussions.
5. Financial and Logistical Constraints: Limited funding and logistical support hinder youth involvement.
6. Political and Social Exclusion: Marginalized youth face additional barriers in accessing decision-making spaces.
Barriers Between Youth and Government Collaboration:
1. Communication Gaps: Different languages and perspectives hinder understanding between youth and government.
2. Limited Youth Representation in Government Structures: Youth lack direct participation in climate policy-making bodies.
3. Governmental Skepticism Toward Youth Initiatives: Governments may distrust or underestimate youth-led climate actions.
4. Inadequate Collaboration Frameworks: There is no formalized mechanism for youth-government collaboration in NDCs.
5. Lack of Political Will: Governments often lack the political will to integrate youth in decision-making processes
How to make NDCs more youth-inclusive and impactful:
1. Designing Youth-Inclusive NDCs:
• Youth-Led Consultations: Involve young people in NDC development through consultations and advisory councils.
• Prioritize Key Sectors: Focus on youth concerns like green jobs, education, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture.
• Incorporate Local Knowledge: Recognize indigenous youth and local sustainable practices in climate solutions.
• Gender and Social Inclusion: Address the unique challenges of marginalized youth, including women and youth with disabilities.
2. Roles for Youth in Implementing NDCs:
• Green Entrepreneurship: Encourage youth-led businesses and create green job opportunities.
• Local Action: Engage youth in community-based initiatives such as tree planting, energy efficiency, and climate education.
• Decision-Making: Ensure youth have a seat at the table in policy development and climate governance.
3. Roles for Youth in Monitoring and Reporting NDCs:
• Youth-Led Monitoring: Involve youth in tracking progress, collecting data, and local reporting.
• Advocacy and Accountability: Empower youth to hold governments accountable and participate in annual reviews of NDC implementation.
4. Creating Enabling Environments:
• Formal Platforms: Establish youth councils and formal participation structures in climate policy processes.
• Access to Finance: Provide youth with funding opportunities for youth-led climate projects and initiatives.

To strengthen youth participation in NDCs, it’s crucial to develop policies, allocate resources, and build partnerships that empower young people throughout the climate action process. Here’s how governments and stakeholders can better support youth involvement:
1. Policies to Ensure Youth Inclusion:
• Youth Participation Mandates: Develop policies that mandate youth representation in climate governance and decision-making bodies.
• Mainstream Youth in Climate Action: Integrate youth priorities in NDCs and ensure youth are central in policy development.
• Promote Intergenerational Dialogue: Foster multi-generational dialogues for collaborative climate action.

2. Resources Needed for Youth Participation:
• Access to Climate Education: Provide climate education and training programs to equip youth with knowledge and leadership skills.
• Financial Support: Establish youth climate funds, grants, and microfinance opportunities for youth-led projects.
• Digital Support: Provide technology access and skills training in climate-related fields.

3. Partnerships to Support Youth:
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Engage the private sector for youth opportunities in green jobs and sustainable businesses.
• Youth and Civil Society Networks: Partner with youth-led organizations and NGOs to ensure youth representation.
• Global Support: Strengthen youth engagement in international climate platforms like UNFCCC.

4. Policy Reforms to Support Youth:
• Youth-Centered Policies: Ensure youth-led initiatives are central to NDC implementation and climate action plans.
• Accountability Frameworks: Create systems for youth-inclusive monitoring of NDC progress.

5. How Governments and Stakeholders Can Support Youth:
• Create Platforms for Youth Leadership: Establish formal structures like youth councils for active participation in climate policies.
• Encourage Youth Innovation: Provide incentives for youth to lead in policy development and climate solutions.
To make NDCs effective and inclusive, youth participation must be prioritized through policy reforms, resources, and partnerships. By empowering youth with education, funding, and decision-making power, they can actively contribute to climate action. Governments and stakeholders should create platforms for youth to lead, ensuring that climate solutions are equitable and sustainable. Ultimately, a youth-inclusive approach to NDCs will foster innovation and resilience, making climate action more effective for current and future generations.

Bonjour à tous et toutes,
Je me nomme Mlle Kadidia DIA de l'ONG/Solidarité Internationale pour l'Afrique (SIA), une organisation nationale malienne impliquée depuis des années dans la lutte contre les changements climatiques avec l'implication des jeunes. Je fais partie aujourd'hui du réseau Climat & Adaptation qui informé, éduque les jeunes sur tous les domaines du changement climatique et je salue ma compatriote qui a déjà parlé sur la participation des jeunes. Aujourd'hui c'est un éveil de conscience qui est né au Mali avec l'arrivée des nouvelles autorités qui sont tous jeunes et qui invitent les jeunes à s'impliquer dans le développement du pays.
Je vous invite à visiter notre site internet sur : www.siamali.ml

Nice being here.
😊

My comment for Youth Climate Priorities for Africa's NDCs

1. Pressing Climate Challenges & Priorities.
In Nigeria and across West Africa, youth face:
- Education disruptions from climate disasters (flood-damaged schools,children mining on illegal sites, heatwave closures)
- Growing unemployment as traditional sectors fail
- Food insecurity from disrupted rainfall patterns
Priority sectors: Climate education, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture

2. Barriers to Youth Engagement
Key obstacles:
- Climate education gaps in school curricula
- Digital divide limits online participation
- No formal channels for student organizations to input on NDCs

3. Making NDCs Youth-Inclusive
We recommend:
- Mainstreaming climate education in all NDC implementation
- Youth-led community climate literacy programs
- University-NDC partnerships for student research projects

4. Strengthening Participation
Critical needs:
- Government-funded climate vocational training
- Teacher capacity building on NDC implementation
- STEM scholarships focused on climate solutions

thank you.

Hello everyone, I'm Raymond Douglas Wamani, a young change agent and tech innovator based in Kampala, Uganda.
I'm actively involved in climate change mitigation and adaptation—primarily through leveraging technology to design innovative, community-centered solutions. My passion lies in bridging the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that young people are participants and architects of climate-resilience strategies.

Below are my insights in response to the key consultation questions.

1. Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges

Africa’s youth are at the frontlines of the climate crisis. In Uganda and across the continent, young people face severe disruptions in:
- Agriculture – due to erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and soil degradation, threatening livelihoods and food security.
- Deforestation – often driven by energy demands and unsustainable land use, reducing biodiversity and community resilience.
- Urban flooding and waste mismanagement – putting lives and health at risk in rapidly growing cities like Kampala.
- Access to climate education and green opportunities – remains limited for most youth, especially in rural communities.

To address these challenges, priority sectors should include:
- Sustainable agriculture & water systems
- Forestry and ecosystem restoration
- Climate education and green skills development
- Circular economy and urban climate resilience

2. Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs
Despite being a powerful force for change, young people continue to face:
- Low awareness of NDC processes and their role in them.
- Limited access to decision-making spaces, often dominated by older policymakers or elite groups.
- Inadequate funding and capacity-building for youth-led climate action.
- Weak institutional frameworks for youth-government collaboration, making participation informal and inconsistent.
There is also a lack of structured feedback loops, where youth inputs can meaningfully shape climate policies.

3. Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful
For NDCs to truly reflect the priorities of Africa’s youth, they must:
- Institutionalize youth participation across all NDC stages — from design to implementation and monitoring.
- Embed youth climate priorities into sectoral strategies (e.g., agriculture, energy, education, technology).
- Establish youth advisory boards under ministries or national climate platforms.

Youth must be recognized as:
- Innovators, leveraging tech and grassroots knowledge.
- Community educators, promoting climate literacy.
- Accountability champions, tracking implementation progress.
- Policy shapers, not just beneficiaries or spectators.

4. Strengthening Youth Participation: Policies, Partnerships & Support
To enable meaningful youth engagement in NDCs, the following are essential:
- Integration of climate change in national education systems.
- Dedicated funding streams for youth-led initiatives within national climate budgets.
- Multi-stakeholder partnerships, including youth-CSO-private sector collaborations.
- Legal and policy reforms mandating youth inclusion in national climate governance.
Governments, donors, and development partners must:
- Invest in capacity building for youth in climate diplomacy, finance, and project design.
- Facilitate mentorship programs and innovation hubs for youth climate solutions.
- Create transparent mechanisms for youth to monitor, evaluate, and co-create climate action.

My name is Nomzamo Gcwensa, a passionate youth climate advocate and the visionary founder of the Bold Empowered Affirmed and Revived (B.E.A.R) Foundation, a movement committed to empowering youth through climate education, gender equity, and community-led development. Our work is deeply rooted in amplifying the voices of youth in national and global climate processes. B.E.A.R Foundation has successfully launched school-based food garden projects, trained eco-champions, and our participation on this platform is aimed at bridging the gap between young people and decision-makers. As a leader of the youth led organisation, I am a fierce believer in intersectionality addressing climate justice alongside education, economic empowerment, and mental health. My involvement in platforms like the Youth4Climate community and our organisation’s commitment to sustainability make me a driving force in South Africa’s youth-led climate advocacy space.

I stands ready to contribute to regional consultations and global dialogues that will ensure meaningful youth engagement in shaping climate futures.

Hello Everyone, I'm Khumbo Mindiera/Biomedical Engineer/Founder @MIND ERA INNOVATIONS/UNIPOD Malawi member, my focus is on fighting climate change through providing alternative ways to energy use, but I would like to also comment on a few issues related to this group.

Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges:
In Malawi, youth face severe climate-related challenges such as prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, food insecurity, and energy poverty. The overdependence on charcoal and firewood for cooking leads to rampant deforestation and indoor air pollution, disproportionately affecting women and children. The energy sector must be prioritized—particularly clean cooking and decentralized renewable energy solutions. Young people are eager to develop and adopt innovations that reduce environmental degradation while supporting livelihoods.

Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs:
In Malawi, one of the major barriers is limited awareness of national climate policies among youth, especially those in rural areas. There's also a lack of platforms where young innovators can contribute to or access information on the NDC process. Many youth-led initiatives struggle to scale due to insufficient funding, limited technical support, and minimal collaboration with government institutions. Despite having brilliant ideas, young changemakers are often excluded from decision-making spaces or consulted too late in the policy cycle.

Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful:
To reflect youth priorities, NDCs must include youth-specific targets and budgets, especially in sectors like energy, agriculture, and green entrepreneurship. Young people should be involved from the design stage—consulted not just as beneficiaries, but as solution providers. Platforms like innovation hubs, school climate clubs, and university-based sustainability centers can serve as entry points for gathering insights from young people. Youth should also be included in monitoring and evaluation through digital tools and community feedback mechanisms.

Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships & Policy Reforms:
Governments should create climate innovation funds specifically for youth-led projects, offer tax incentives for green startups, and institutionalize youth advisory boards within ministries responsible for climate action. Partnerships with organizations like UNDP, GIZ, and private sector players can provide the technical and financial resources youth need. Curricula reforms to include climate literacy and innovation skills at secondary and tertiary levels would also empower the next generation of climate leaders. Above all, governments must shift from tokenistic inclusion to co-creation, where youth are partners in implementation and accountability.

Hello Zipporah,

Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I’m truly honored to be part of this important discussion. The work we do through the B.E.A.R Foundation is driven by our passion to equip and empower young people, and I’m excited to contribute to this consultation.

I look forward to engaging meaningfully.

Hello everyone, hey Zipporah . My name is Gloria Musambi a biochemistry student from Zambia and I am interested in climate topics . I am thrilled to be part of this forum .
To jump straight into answering your questions , in Zambia the most pressing climate challenges are drought which has affected the nation greatly by affecting agriculture and food security, this year, 2025, Zambia experienced floods which have affected communities and its infrastructure and increased the risk of diseases such as cholera . The sectors that should be prioritized are agriculture, education and water sanitation ( in my community/area the water supplied to us is contaminated and we are scared of drinking it which is an expense on us because we have to buy mineral water everytime for drinking) .
The main challenges preventing young people from actively participating in the NDC process is that young people lack the skills and knowledge to effectively participate in the NDC . Climate change has not been prioritized in our schools and most young people get to educate themselves through the internet about it so they lack information about climate change issues.
NDCs can be designed in a way that it provides training and support programs to enhance young people’s skills and knowledge on climate change and ensure that they participate in the decision making.
Policies that support youth participation and in climate change governance can be formed as well as funding can be allocated for youth led climate change initiatives and projects.

Hello everyone, hey Zipporah . My name is Gloria Musambi a biochemistry student from Zambia and I am interested in climate topics . I am thrilled to be part of this forum .
To jump straight into answering your questions , in Zambia the most pressing climate challenges are drought which has affected the nation greatly by affecting agriculture and food security, this year, 2025, Zambia experienced floods which have affected communities and its infrastructure and increased the risk of diseases such as cholera . The sectors that should be prioritized are agriculture, education and water sanitation ( in my community/area the water supplied to us is contaminated and we are scared of drinking it which is an expense on us because we have to buy mineral water everytime for drinking) .
The main challenges preventing young people from actively participating in the NDC process is that young people lack the skills and knowledge to effectively participate in the NDC . Climate change has not been prioritized in our schools and most young people get to educate themselves through the internet about it so they lack information about climate change issues.
NDCs can be designed in a way that it provides training and support programs to enhance young people’s skills and knowledge on climate change and ensure that they participate in the decision making.
Policies that support youth participation and in climate change governance can be formed as well as funding can be allocated for youth led climate change initiatives and projects.

1. Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges

In our experience at the B.E.A.R Foundation, young people in urban and peri-urban areas like Diepsloot, Johannesburg, are most affected by climate challenges such as extreme heat, flooding, water scarcity, and pollution. These directly impact their health, access to education, and quality of life. Key sectors that should be prioritized include:
Education: Integrate climate education in schools to raise awareness and equip learners with skills to act.
Waste Management & Sanitation: Many other communities face a similar challenge of poor waste disposal systems and inadequate sanitation, contributing to disease and environmental degradation.

2. Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs

Barriers include:
Limited Access to Information: Many young people are unaware of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or how they can influence them.
Lack of Platforms: There are few structured opportunities for youth to engage in policy discussions or decision-making spaces.
Tokenism: When youth are included, it is often symbolic rather than substantive, with their inputs overlooked.
Poor Collaboration with Government: A gap in trust and communication between youth-led movements and government stakeholders hinders co-creation and accountability.

3. Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful

To reflect youth priorities genuinely, NDCs must:
Be co-developed with youth through consultations, workshops, and decision-making panels at local, regional, and national levels.
Include youth implementation roles such as climate educators, green innovators, and peer advocates.
Support youth-led monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress and recommend improvements. The B.E.A.R Foundation has seen success when young changemakers are trained as environmental ambassadors in schools, empowering them to lead campaigns on recycling, tree planting, and climate education.

4. Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships & Policy Reforms:
Policies: Governments should mandate youth representation in climate bodies and integrate youth perspectives into climate action plans.
Resources: Provide funding, training, and mentorship for youth-led climate initiatives, particularly in under-resourced areas.

https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/1003/2141

Dear SADIKOU,
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing idea with us to create a social media platform where youths can be sensitized massively worldwide on the impacts of individual actions on the climate and also to monetize innovative climate initiatives.
Could you share with us some of the most urgent climate challenges faced by youths in your country and region and which sector do you think should be prioritized in order to respond to their needs?

Hello all. The most pressing challenge in my community is the lack of sensitization about how individual actions can impact the environment however minor they seem. Secondly there is little to no funding opportunities for us who educate our communities about climate change and this affects the scope of our work.

Bonjour tout le monde, vous avez Boucari Oumar MAIGA je suis du Mali 🇲🇱. Je suis ravi de participer à cette consultation des jeunes sur les CDN qui doivent retracer la trajectoire de notre survie sur cette terre

1- les défis les plus urgents sont : Financement, atténuation, adaptation, renforcement des capacités.
Les secteurs prioritaires sont :
Agroécologie, les innovations vertes, renforcement des capacités techniques.

2- Les défis qui empêchent les jeunes sont :
✓Manque d'orientation et faible connaissance des CDN
✓Accès limité aux espaces de prise de décision
✓Manque de financement pour faciliter la participation des jeunes
✓Les jeunes sont considérés comme seconde zone, leurs voix n'est pas prises en compte

3- Pour rendre les CDN plus inclusive, il faut :
✓Impliquer les jeunes dans tous les processus d'élaboration des CDN
✓Prendre en compte les aspirations des jeunes
✓Donner plus de place aux jeunes dans les espaces de prise de décision
Les jeunes doivent jouer les rôles de :
✓Sensibilisateurs de la communauté sur les CDN
✓Mobilisateurs de toutes les couches pour leur participation au processus

4- Pour renforcer la participation des jeunes il faut :
✓Créer davantage d'opportunités/plateformes pour l'engagement des jeunes dans les politiques climatiques et la prise de décision aux niveaux local, national et régional. (ex: renforcement des capacités sur les CDN).
✓Renforcer la participation des jeunes dans les processus de la CCNUCC, y compris les négociations de la COP
✓Fournir aux jeunes l'accès au financement, à la technologie et aux autres ressources dont ils ont besoin pour mettre en œuvre leurs initiatives d'action climatique.
✓Mettre en avant les bonnes pratiques des actions climatiques des jeunes

Nous sommes le présent et le futur, c'est notre droit d'être associé aux prises de décisions de notre future.

Hello from the Asia-Pacific region!

I'm Dr. Anirudh Janagam, currently supporting youth consultations on NDCs in the Global South. Reading these powerful reflections from Africa is deeply inspiring. 🌱✨️

In our region, we’ve been piloting digital dashboards to track youth-led climate-health actions, and school-based programs to improve trust between youth and decision-makers.

I wonder, are there youth-led data or storytelling innovations in Africa helping bridge that policy gap?

Let’s build cross-regional solidarity and co-create ways for our voices to shape NDC implementation, not just consultation. 🌍💚✨️

Hi everyone, hi Zipporah, I am Kungang Ambotaba Nora from Cameroon. It's an honor to share my thoughts here and learn from others too!
In Cameroon and the Central African region, young people face pressing climate challenges that threaten their livelihoods, health, education, and future opportunities. To effectively address these, it is essential to prioritize key sectors that align with youth realities and ambitions.

Most Pressing Climate Challenges for Young People

1. Unemployment and Limited Livelihood Options
- Climate impacts (e.g droughts, floods) are disrupting agriculture and informal jobs where most youth are engaged.
- Youth struggle to access land, finance, and markets for climate-resilient enterprises.

2. Disruption of Education
- Floods, landslides, and extreme heat damage schools or make them inaccessible.
- Lack of climate education limits youth awareness and preparedness.

3. Health Vulnerabilities
- Rising temperatures and poor sanitation increase disease outbreaks (malaria, cholera, heat-related illness).
- Climate stress affects mental health, especially for displaced or unemployed youth.

4. Forced Migration and Displacement
- Young people are displaced by conflicts worsened by climate pressures (e.g competition over land and water).
- Displaced youth often lack access to social services and employment.

5. Exclusion from Climate Decision-Making
- Youth voices are often sidelined in policy spaces, including NDCs and climate financing processes.

Sectors to Prioritize for Youth Needs

1. Agriculture and Agroecology
- Invest in climate-smart agriculture, value chains, and agroforestry tailored for youth.
- Provide access to land, training, technology, and markets for youth-led farming enterprises.

2. Green Jobs and Entrepreneurship
- Develop youth-focused green job programs in renewable energy, sustainable tourism, waste management, and reforestation.
- Support youth-led startups through incubation, finance, and mentorship.

3. Education and Skills Development
- Integrate climate literacy and green skills into school curricula and vocational training.
- Support digital platforms and mobile learning for remote and conflict-affected youth.

4. Renewable Energy Access
- Expand access to solar mini-grids, especially in off-grid rural areas and schools.
- Train youth as solar technicians and clean energy entrepreneurs.

5. Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH)
- Build climate-resilient water infrastructure in schools and communities.
- Empower youth in hygiene awareness campaigns and community water governance.

6. Urban Planning and Waste Management
- Tackle urban climate issues (heat islands, flooding) with youth-led solutions.
- Support recycling, upcycling, and circular economy enterprises led by young people.

7. Climate Governance and Inclusion
- Institutionalized youth participation in national and local climate policy platforms.
- Create youth climate councils to contribute to NDC implementation and monitoring.

Hi everyone, hi Zipporah, I am Kungang Ambotaba Nora from Cameroon. It's an honor to share my thoughts here and learn from others too!
In Cameroon and the Central African region, young people face pressing climate challenges that threaten their livelihoods, health, education, and future opportunities. To effectively address these, it is essential to prioritize key sectors that align with youth realities and ambitions.

Most Pressing Climate Challenges for Young People

1. Unemployment and Limited Livelihood Options
- Climate impacts (e.g droughts, floods) are disrupting agriculture and informal jobs where most youth are engaged.
- Youth struggle to access land, finance, and markets for climate-resilient enterprises.

2. Disruption of Education
- Floods, landslides, and extreme heat damage schools or make them inaccessible.
- Lack of climate education limits youth awareness and preparedness.

3. Health Vulnerabilities
- Rising temperatures and poor sanitation increase disease outbreaks (malaria, cholera, heat-related illness).
- Climate stress affects mental health, especially for displaced or unemployed youth.

4. Forced Migration and Displacement
- Young people are displaced by conflicts worsened by climate pressures (e.g competition over land and water).
- Displaced youth often lack access to social services and employment.

5. Exclusion from Climate Decision-Making
- Youth voices are often sidelined in policy spaces, including NDCs and climate financing processes.

Sectors to Prioritize for Youth Needs

1. Agriculture and Agroecology
- Invest in climate-smart agriculture, value chains, and agroforestry tailored for youth.
- Provide access to land, training, technology, and markets for youth-led farming enterprises.

2. Green Jobs and Entrepreneurship
- Develop youth-focused green job programs in renewable energy, sustainable tourism, waste management, and reforestation.
- Support youth-led startups through incubation, finance, and mentorship.

3. Education and Skills Development
- Integrate climate literacy and green skills into school curricula and vocational training.
- Support digital platforms and mobile learning for remote and conflict-affected youth.

4. Renewable Energy Access
- Expand access to solar mini-grids, especially in off-grid rural areas and schools.
- Train youth as solar technicians and clean energy entrepreneurs.

5. Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH)
- Build climate-resilient water infrastructure in schools and communities.
- Empower youth in hygiene awareness campaigns and community water governance.

6. Urban Planning and Waste Management
- Tackle urban climate issues (heat islands, flooding) with youth-led solutions.
- Support recycling, upcycling, and circular economy enterprises led by young people.

7. Climate Governance and Inclusion
- Institutionalized youth participation in national and local climate policy platforms.
- Create youth climate councils to contribute to NDC implementation and monitoring.

As indicated, as we experience it from day to day, In many regions, all people including young people face issues like drought, flooding, and increased food insecurity, that loosen their hope. These challenges disproportionately affect their livelihoods and future.
Key sectors to address include agriculture (to ensure food security), renewable energy (to combat energy poverty), and education (to equip youth with knowledge and skills for climate resilience).

And more than that Young people often lack access to decision-making forums and face bureaucratic barriers, which result in lack of awareness about NDCs and climate policies and limits their involvement. There is often a perception that youth are inexperienced or lack the necessary expertise, leading to their exclusion. Moreover, communication gaps and a lack of trust between youth and government officials hinder collaboration.

I think these actionable steps for meaningful involvement in NDCs are key point for Africans, especially young people to be heard and included:

Designing NDCs Policies should actively incorporate youth perspectives through consultations and youth-led initiatives. Engaging young people in the drafting process ensures that their priorities are reflected. Youth should be involved in monitoring and evaluating NDC implementation. They can also lead awareness campaigns and serve as ambassadors for climate action in their communities.

Governments should establish youth councils and allocate funding for youth-led climate initiatives. Educational programs focusing on climate change should be expanded to empower young leaders.

Collaboration with NGOs and educational institutions can enhance youth engagement. Stakeholders should provide platforms for youth voices and ensure that their insights shape policies at all levels.

As indicated, as we experience it from day to day, In many regions, all people including young people face issues like drought, flooding, and increased food insecurity, that loosen their hope. These challenges disproportionately affect their livelihoods and future.
Key sectors to address include agriculture (to ensure food security), renewable energy (to combat energy poverty), and education (to equip youth with knowledge and skills for climate resilience).

And more than that Young people often lack access to decision-making forums and face bureaucratic barriers, which result in lack of awareness about NDCs and climate policies and limits their involvement. There is often a perception that youth are inexperienced or lack the necessary expertise, leading to their exclusion. Moreover, communication gaps and a lack of trust between youth and government officials hinder collaboration.

I think these actionable steps for meaningful involvement in NDCs are key point for Africans, especially young people to be heard and included:

Designing NDCs Policies should actively incorporate youth perspectives through consultations and youth-led initiatives. Engaging young people in the drafting process ensures that their priorities are reflected. Youth should be involved in monitoring and evaluating NDC implementation. They can also lead awareness campaigns and serve as ambassadors for climate action in their communities.

Governments should establish youth councils and allocate funding for youth-led climate initiatives. Educational programs focusing on climate change should be expanded to empower young leaders.

Collaboration with NGOs and educational institutions can enhance youth engagement. Stakeholders should provide platforms for youth voices and ensure that their insights shape policies at all levels.

Bonjour ! Je suis juriste et actuellement j'évolue dans le milieu associatif. C'est un grand plaisir pour moi de rejoindre les jeunes engagés en faveur des droits humains plus spécifiquement sur l'engagement des jeunes.

My name is owere jøhn and as a young person in Uganda, I've seen firsthand how climate change affects our lives. Food insecurity, limited job opportunities, and overwhelmed social services are just a few of the challenges we face. To address these issues, I believe we need to prioritize education and training in sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and resilience. We also need to involve young people in decision-making processes and support initiatives that promote environmental conservation. By working together, we can build a more sustainable future and ensure that our voices are heard. Climate action that prioritizes youth needs is crucial for our prosperity in my region

This is a crucial discussion, and it's encouraging to see the focus on youth engagement in Africa's climate action. As a young person living here in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria, I see firsthand how climate change impacts our daily lives.

Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges: For us, the most pressing challenges revolve around food security due to changing rainfall patterns affecting our farmlands, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like intense heatwaves and flooding, which disrupt our lives and livelihoods. We also worry about access to clean water as droughts become more common. Prioritizing sustainable agriculture, investing in renewable energy sources to reduce emissions and build resilience, and improving water management infrastructure are key sectors that need urgent attention to address our needs.

Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs: One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of information and awareness about NDCs and how we can contribute. Often, these processes feel distant and inaccessible. There's also a significant power imbalance; our voices aren't always taken seriously by government officials, and there are limited platforms for genuine dialogue and collaboration. Furthermore, many young people lack the resources and capacity, including funding and technical expertise, to effectively participate in these complex processes.

Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful: To genuinely reflect youth priorities, NDCs need to be co-created with young people from the outset. This means involving us in consultations, workshops, and decision-making bodies. Governments should establish youth advisory councils or similar mechanisms to ensure our perspectives are heard and integrated. Furthermore, NDCs should include youth-specific targets and indicators to track progress on issues that directly affect us, such as youth employment in the green economy and access to climate education. We need to be active participants in the implementation and monitoring of these plans, holding governments accountable and contributing our innovative ideas.

Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships & Policy Reforms: Governments need to enact policies that mandate youth inclusion in climate decision-making at all levels. This should be backed by dedicated funding and resources to support youth-led climate initiatives and capacity-building programs. Partnerships between government agencies, educational institutions, civil society organizations, and youth networks are crucial for creating enabling environments. We also need access to education and training on climate change and sustainable development to equip us with the knowledge and skills to contribute effectively. Ultimately, fostering a culture of trust and genuine collaboration between youth and government is essential for meaningful and impactful climate action.

Thank you for providing this platform for our voices to be heard. I believe that by actively engaging young people, Africa can develop and implement more effective and sustainable climate solutions for all.

Hello everyone, my name is Racheal Enakirerhi, and today I'm here to talk to you about a topic that affects us all deeply: climate change. The planet we call home is facing unprecedented changes, causing extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels, and threatening the delicate ecosystems that support all forms of life. As we come together today, it's crucial to recognize the urgency of this issue and act together to protect our planet for future generations.

Hello Everyone, hello Ziporah. Hope you are doing well. My name is Dan Siwa from kenya, a climate action activist, a university student and youth leader, an innovator and entrepreneur in climate sector through sustainable agriculture and food systems using nature based solutions, renewable and clean energy production by utilizing plastic waste at Smart Afrogrics company in kenya.
I'm very much excited to be part of this great platform and I'm looking forward to contribute positively in areas of inclusion of youths in policy and decision-making in national climate discussions, acces to climate financing innovations, entrepreneurships and green jobs, food and water security and much more.

Hello everyone, my name is Racheal Enakirerhi, I'm here to talk to you about a topic that affects us all deeply: climate change. The planet we call home is facing unprecedented changes, causing extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels, and threatening the delicate ecosystems that support all forms of life. As we come together today, it's crucial to recognize the urgency of this issue and act together to protect our planet for future generations.
The climate challenges faced by youth in my country include extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, which can lead to displacement, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of education. Climate change can also exacerbate existing socio-economic inequalities, making it difficult for young people in vulnerable communities to access basic services and opportunities. Furthermore, air and water pollution, deforestation, and desertification are also significant problems affecting the well-being of the youth in my region.
In many cases, the priorities and concerns of young people are not adequately reflected in NDCs. While the Paris Agreement calls for inclusive and transparent governance, and urges countries to consider the needs and perspectives of future generations, young people are often underrepresented in climate policy processes. This lack of representation can result in NDCs that do not fully address youth-specific challenges and priorities, nor leverage the unique perspectives and innovative solutions that young people can bring to climate action.
There are several barriers that prevent young people from effectively engaging in NDC processes:
1. Limited awareness and understanding of NDCs and climate change issues among young people, as climate change education is not always prioritized in formal education systems.
2. Lack of representation in decision-making processes, as young people are often underrepresented in government, civil society, and other relevant stakeholder groups.
3. Limited access to information and resources, such as financial, technological, and logistical support, which can hinder young people's ability to participate in NDC processes.

Hey everyone I'm Wonder from Ghana the major challenge here is about climate it's really affecting us from the Agriculture sector, biodiversity and conservation we need immediate support and attention to create more awareness

Action Conjointe GREFA & ALEECA pour la Journée Internationale de la Terre Nourricière : Un Engagement Concret pour Maroua

En ce jour dédié à notre Terre Nourricière, les organisations GREFA et ALEECA ont uni leurs forces à Maroua pour une action significative et impactante : une vaste opération de collecte et de recyclage des déchets plastiques au cœur de la ville. Cette initiative conjointe a permis de mobiliser activement les citoyens autour d'un objectif crucial : la réduction de la pollution plastique et la prévention des obstructions des systèmes de drainage urbain, enjeux majeurs à l'approche de la saison des pluies dans notre région.

Sur un linéaire d'un kilomètre, l'engagement des participants a permis de collecter et de recycler environ 100 kg de déchets plastiques, illustrant concrètement la capacité d'une action coordonnée à générer des résultats tangibles. Cette démarche s'inscrit pleinement dans notre engagement commun à promouvoir des pratiques environnementales durables et à renforcer la résilience de notre communauté face aux défis environnementaux.

Nous tenons à exprimer notre profonde gratitude à tous les membres de GREFA et d'ALEECA, aux volontaires dévoués et aux précieux partenaires qui ont apporté leur soutien indéfectible à cette initiative. Votre mobilisation et votre engagement sont la pierre angulaire de notre succès et témoignent d'une conscience environnementale partagée.

Cette action n'est qu'une étape dans notre engagement continu à œuvrer pour un environnement plus sain et une ville de Maroua plus propre et résiliente. Ensemble, continuons à multiplier ces initiatives et à construire un avenir où la protection de notre Terre Nourricière est une priorité collective.

Priorités des jeunes et défis climatiques : Quels sont les défis climatiques les plus urgents pour les jeunes de votre région, et quels sont les secteurs à privilégier pour répondre à leurs besoins ?
- éducations environnementales
- accès à la finances climatique
- cadres d'apprentissages sur le climat
- compétences en négociations climatiques
Obstacles à un engagement significatif des jeunes dans les CDN : Quels sont les principaux défis qui empêchent les jeunes de participer activement au processus des CDN, et quels sont les obstacles à la collaboration entre les jeunes et les gouvernements ?
- absence d'information sur les CDN
- non association des jeunes dans les consultations préparatoires des CDN
- méconnaissances des CDN auprès des jeunes
absences d'organisations de jeunes orientées sur les CDN
- insuffisances de recherches scientifiques
-insuffisance des chercheurs sur les CDN
-absence de coordination et de collaboration les organisations des jeunes et les instances gouvernementales
Rendre les CDN plus inclusifs et plus efficaces pour les jeunes : Comment les CDN peuvent-elles être conçues pour refléter véritablement les priorités des jeunes, et quels rôles les jeunes devraient-ils jouer dans l'élaboration, la mise en œuvre et le suivi de ces CDN ?
- prendre part activement à tous les processus de consultations sur les CDN
- s'approprier les CDN
-se former et développer des compétences spécifiques sur les CDN
- sensibiliser les processus de CDN
Renforcer la participation des jeunes par le soutien, les partenariats et les réformes politiques : Quelles sont les politiques, les ressources et les partenariats nécessaires pour garantir une participation significative des jeunes aux CDN, et comment les gouvernements et les parties prenantes peuvent-ils mieux soutenir cette participation ?
- faire confiance et responsabiliser les jeunes en leur accordant des places dans les processus des CDN
-encourager l'engagement des jeunes
-créer des filières de finances climatiques
-octroyer des bourses de recherches aux chercheurs sur les CDN

A regardé dans la vidéo

Hello Everyone! I am Aaron Nuwamanya delivering warm greeting from Uganda (The Pearl of Africa).
Its a great honor to meet and share with you about this crucial topic:
Youth in Uganda face intersecting climate and socio-economic challenges that demand targeted sectoral interventions. While progress exists in policy frameworks, systemic barriers hinder meaningful participation in climate governance.
Pressing Climate Challenges & Priority Sectors
Key Challenges:
• Agriculture Instability: Climate-driven flooding/droughts disrupt seasonality, threatening 76% of youth-dependent rural livelihoods.
• Water Scarcity: Erratic rainfall exacerbates conflicts over water resources, particularly in pastoral communities.
• Urban Vulnerability: Rural-urban migration strains infrastructure, with 67.9% youth underemployment in cities.
Priority Sectors:
1. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Expand drought-resistant crops and irrigation training for 4.2 million youth smallholders.
2. Water Management: Implement youth-led rainwater harvesting systems in drought-prone regions like Karamoja.
3. Green Urbanization: Develop waste-to-energy projects and flood-resilient housing in Kampala’s informal settlements.
Barriers to NDC Participation
Structural Challenges:
• Policy Access Gaps: Only 12% of youth organizations report engagement in NDC 3.0 revisions.
• Funding Exclusion: 89% of youth climate initiatives lack access to GCF/Adaptation Fund due to bureaucratic hurdles.
• Token Consultations: Youth inputs rarely progress beyond Local Conferences of Youth to actual policy integration.
Collaboration Barriers:
• Age Hierarchy: Adult-centric decision-making persists in ministries, with youth viewed as beneficiaries rather than partners.
• Skills Mismatch: Limited training on UNFCCC processes leaves youth unprepared for technical NDC negotiations.
Making NDCs Youth-Inclusive
Design Improvements:
• Quota Systems: Mandate 30% youth representation in NDC technical committees and UNFCCC delegations.
• Accountability Mechanisms: Integrate youth scorecards to track NDC implementation against declared targets.
Youth Roles:
• Co-Designers: Partner with organizations like Restless Development to co-design adaptation projects in NAPs.
• Implementers: Channel 15% of climate funds to youth-led afforestation and renewable energy initiatives.
• Monitors: Train 1000+ youth as community climate auditors using MUCCRI’s verification toolkit.
Strengthening Participation
Policy Reforms Needed:
• Institutional Mandates: Amend the National Climate Change Act (2021) to formalize youth climate councils at district levels.
• Fiscal Prioritization: Allocate 10% of Parish Development Model (PDM) budgets to youth climate entrepreneurship.
Support Systems:
• Capacity Platforms: Scale MUCCRI’s Climate Youth Programme to all universities, focusing on NDC financing mechanisms.
• Partnership Models: Foster tripartite collaborations (e.g., Makerere University-YOUNGO-private sector) for skills transfer.
Resource Mobilization:
• Simplify GCF accreditation for youth groups through umbrella funding via Uganda’s Climate Change Department.
• Establish a Youth Climate Innovation Fund with matched financing from NEMA and development partners.
Therefore:
Uganda’s youth require systemic empowerment to transition from climate victims to policy architects. Prioritizing agriculture/ water sectors, institutionalizing youth quotas in NDCs, and reforming financing models could unlock their potential as partners in climate resilience. Success hinges on translating the National Youth Action Plan into measurable investments rather than aspirational documents.

As a young person in a climate-vulnerable region like Somalia, I firmly believe that youth should be at the forefront of shaping NDCs. In Somalia, the most pressing climate challenges for young people include extreme weather events, food insecurity, and limited access to climate education and green job opportunities. To address these challenges, key sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and water management must be prioritized, as they directly impact youth livelihoods and future prospects.

However, barriers to meaningful youth engagement in NDCs persist, including limited access to decision-making processes, lack of funding for youth-led initiatives, and insufficient representation in policy discussions. To overcome these barriers, governments and non-state actors must create dedicated platforms for youth involvement, ensuring that consultations are meaningful and inclusive.

To make NDCs more youth-inclusive, they should reflect the priorities of young people, such as green jobs, climate education, and resilience-building. Young people must play active roles in designing, implementing, and monitoring NDCs to ensure policies are both relevant and effective in addressing the needs of future generations.

Governments and stakeholders should provide **financial support, capacity-building opportunities, and establish partnerships with youth organizations to ensure sustained engagement. Policy reforms that recognize youth as key climate actors and include them in all stages of the NDC process will contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for Somalia.

Dear members.

I believe that one should be healthy, wise and cautious to achieve some objectives

1.Green revolution
Agricultural studies, universities linkage programme, youth engagement, certification
Marketing of raw materials, selling and putting up markets

Help from other developing nations for taking their produce

Putting up of ready to eat goods for
famine affected and malnourished children.

Taking help of cooks, mother and teacher support from other developed countries especially women teachers for examples women group from India to help children in crisis..

2.Medicines and vaccination support from other Nations.
3.Looking after women
Taking help from multispeciality doctors to help girls and women to get treatment and nutrition.
4.Looking after abandoned youth

5.Spreading best practices.

Greetings, Zipporah,
I’m excited to be part of this timely and important conversation. The most pressing climate challenges for young people in Kenya is their marginalization from the center stage of review and decision making consultation process at both county and national level. Majorly, the youth engaged in wetland governance are sidelined in the input formality process due to lack of a formal institution guarding their role and governance nationwide. Lack of awareness on the NDC review process and procedure has also exacerbated the marginalization of indigenous youth from the countryside. First and foremost, I propose for the contracting parties to the UNFCCC to integrate wetland text into their NDCs and ensure the scope and target of their implementation are well outlined in the updated 2025 NDCs. Secondly, i propose the strengthening of engaging youth in wetlands governance in the climate talks and negotiations and consider the work of Ramsar Secreatariat is part of the core guidleines to achieve the mission of the paris agreement. Lastly, I request strategic capacity building to the marginalized and the indigenous on the process and formality of consultation about the NDCs.

Hello everyone, my name is Acsah from Zanzibar, thank you, Zipporah, for moderating. I’m honored and exited to meet my fellow game changes and to be part of this space, working passionate with youth towards inclusive strategic approach to NDCs in Africa.

Hello everyone, I'm Jennifer B. Boateng, a climate advocate from Ghana, and these are my perspectives:

Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges

In Ghana, young people face urgent climate threats that demand immediate action. The most pressing challenges include agricultural instability caused by unpredictable rainfall patterns, threatening food security and livelihoods for youth in rural communities. Coastal erosion and flooding are displacing young people in cities like Accra, where rising sea levels destroy homes and businesses. Urban areas struggle with air pollution and waste management crises that directly impact youth health and economic opportunities.

To address these, we must prioritize climate-smart agriculture and irrigation systems for young farmers, coastal protection infrastructure with relocation support, and circular economy programs that create green jobs in waste management. These sectors represent both our greatest vulnerabilities and our most promising opportunities for youth-led solutions.

Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs

Young Ghanaians face systemic obstacles in NDC processes. An alarming information gap exists where about 80% of youth in my networks don't understand NDCs due to technical jargon and lack of targeted outreach. Tokenistic participation remains rampant - youth are often invited to photo opportunities but systematically excluded from technical working groups where real decisions are made.

Bureaucratic hurdles create additional barriers, with complex application processes for climate funds effectively locking out youth-led organizations that lack formal legal status or financial history. The government collaboration gap persists because there are no formal youth consultation mechanisms in climate policymaking, and ministries frequently view youth as passive beneficiaries rather than active partners in climate action.

Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful

For NDCs to genuinely reflect youth priorities, they must incorporate mandatory youth chapters co-created through nationwide consultations. We need to establish youth climate councils with voting rights in NDC oversight committees and adopt youth-led monitoring frameworks that utilize digital tools like crowd-sourced impact tracking.

Young people should be empowered in three key roles: as co-designers of adaptation programs in schools and communities, as lead implementers through properly funded youth climate corps programs, and as accountability watchdogs through participatory budget tracking of climate funds. This comprehensive approach would transform youth from occasional consultants to essential stakeholders in the NDC process.

Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships and Policy Reforms

Concrete reforms must include policy changes like passing a Youth Climate Participation Act that mandates 30% youth representation in all climate decision-making bodies and requires annual youth NDC review forums at both district and national levels.

Resource allocation needs restructuring to create accessible funding windows, such as simplified grants for youth climate startups under $10,000 and government-matched crowdfunding mechanisms for community projects. Strategic partnerships should be built through ministry-youth co-creation labs for NDC implementation and university partnerships to build technical capacity among young climate leaders.

The upcoming NDC revision presents Ghana's opportunity to move beyond youth inclusion rhetoric and implement transformative action. I am committed to contributing through the Y4C platform and will continue advocating for commitments that match our generation's urgency. When young people are genuinely empowered to lead, sustainable and innovative solutions naturally follow.

#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
#GhanaYouth4Climate

1. Youth Priorities and Climate Challenges
In our region, the most pressing climate challenges affecting youth include:

Food insecurity due to changing rainfall patterns impacting agriculture, a key livelihood sector for many young people.

Water scarcity and poor sanitation, especially in informal settlements and rural areas.

Unemployment and economic instability, worsened by climate shocks that affect farming, tourism, and small businesses.

Health impacts from pollution and extreme weather events.

Sectors to prioritize include:

Climate-smart agriculture, to secure food systems and create green jobs.

Clean energy access, to empower youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship.

Urban planning and transportation, with youth-inclusive infrastructure design.

Education and skilling, focusing on green skills and climate literacy.

2. Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs
Key barriers include:

Lack of awareness and access to information on NDCs and national climate policy frameworks.

Limited representation of youth in formal policy-making spaces.

Tokenistic engagement, where youth are consulted but not meaningfully included in decision-making.

Resource constraints, such as funding and institutional support for youth-led climate initiatives.

3. Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful
To reflect youth priorities, NDCs should:

Integrate youth consultations at all stages—design, implementation, and monitoring.

Include youth-specific targets, such as youth-led green job creation, climate education programs, and funding access.

Recognize youth as key implementation partners, through innovation hubs, monitoring systems, and community outreach.

Support intergenerational co-leadership models that embed youth voices alongside experienced stakeholders.

4. Strengthening Youth Participation Through Support, Partnerships & Policy Reforms
Governments and stakeholders should:

Develop policies that institutionalize youth engagement, such as Youth Advisory Boards linked to climate ministries.

Provide financial and technical support for youth-led climate solutions through grants, fellowships, and incubation programs.

Foster partnerships with schools, universities, private sector, and civil society to mainstream youth participation in climate action.

Ensure transparency and feedback loops, so youth inputs are tracked, valued, and implemented.

Bonjour, Hello,

My name is Emmanuel Mumo from Kenya. I am French educator by profession and a climate change activist with keen interest in environmental sustainability.

I'm excited to take part in this discussion and contribute to the forum on youth engagement in NDCs.

Taking for instance Kenya, the engagement of youth in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) remains fraught with systemic barriers and missed opportunities, despite young people constituting over 75% of the population and bearing the brunt of climate impacts.

A central challenge lies in the persistent tokenism that reduces youth participation to symbolic gestures rather than substantive involvement. For instance, during critical NDC revision processes in 2025, youth representatives were confined to peripheral roles, their proposals on green entrepreneurship and mental health dismissed as “unrealistic” in high-level ministerial discussions. This exclusion is compounded by structural inequities: rural and Indigenous youth from regions like Turkana or the Mau Forest face geographic and bureaucratic hurdles, often lacking access to digital platforms or travel funds to attend urban-centric policy forums. Even when present, their voices are diluted by power imbalances—evident when pastoralist youth advocating for land rights were barred from speaking at climate finance summits unless chaperoned by elders.

Kenya’s current NDCs reflect glaring gaps in addressing intergenerational equity. While the documents acknowledge youth as stakeholders, they lack binding mechanisms to integrate youth-led solutions into national planning. For example, the 2025 Carbon Markets Initiative, touted as a climate finance breakthrough, sidelined youth innovators pioneering community carbon projects, favoring instead established NGOs and private entities disconnected from grassroots realities. The NDCs also fail to protect Indigenous youth knowledge systems: Ogiek forest conservation strategies rooted in generational honey-harvesting practices were overlooked in favor of foreign-led REDD+ programs that triggered displacement. Moreover, the NDCs’ emphasis on large-scale infrastructure—such as mega-dams and grid expansions—neglects decentralized, youth-driven solutions like solar microgrids in informal settlements, perpetuating energy poverty.

Bridging the divide between youth and decision-makers requires reimagining collaboration beyond performative workshops. One transformative approach is institutionalizing permanent youth climate councils with legislative authority to co-design and veto policies, ensuring their expertise shapes NDCs from inception. Decentralizing consultations through mobile forums in ASAL counties and urban informal settlements would democratize access, using storytelling and digital tools to capture localized priorities. To build trust, policymakers must adopt youth-friendly accountability mechanisms—for instance, blockchain-tracked climate budgets that allow real-time public auditing, or mandatory impact assessments evaluating how NDC measures affect under-35 demographics. Partnerships with youth-led media collectives could also translate technical NDC jargon into Sheng or Swahili radio dramas, fostering widespread ownership.

Youth themselves have articulated clear solutions needing urgent support. First, direct financing mechanisms—such as a national Youth Climate Innovation Fund with streamlined grant applications—could scale grassroots initiatives. Second, capacity-building ecosystems are critical: mentorship programs pairing youth entrepreneurs with retired climate experts, or “policy hackathons” where tech-savvy youth develop apps to crowdsource NDC feedback. Third, legal frameworks must mandate intergenerational justice, such as requiring Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from youth and Indigenous communities before approving projects affecting their lands. Finally, mental health support for youth activists—burnout from battling bureaucratic inertia and ecological grief—must be embedded in NDC health strategies.

Kenya’s climate future hinges on recognizing youth not as beneficiaries but as co-architects of resilience. Their exclusion is not merely unjust but counterproductive: it silences the very innovators capable of bridging policy with hyper-local realities. The path forward demands dismantling gatekeeping traditions, investing in youth-led systems, and rewriting NDCs as living covenants that honor both ancestral wisdom and the audacity of young visionaries. Only then can Kenya’s climate action claim legitimacy—and efficacy—in this decisive decade.

Thankyou for the opportunity to share.

Cordially,
Emmanuel Mumo.

انا من المغرب شكرا لكم علي الفرصة لمناقشة الحلول المناخية الصعبة ما يمكن فعله الان هو التوجه الى الدعم الافكار التي هي مناسبة للتطبيق مثل دعم الشباب الغيور على هذا الكوكب) من اجل التغيير ما يمكن تغييره الى الافضل وكذا جعل المناخ من الاولويات التي يمكن مناقشتها وسط هذا الامبالات من استغلال الطبيعة وستغلال المياه بشكل مهول الانسان يمكنه احدات التغيير عن طريق دعم الافكار الناجحة شكرا

Hi everyone, i'm JEREMIE Kasongo from Congo-DRC nice to meet you !

1. Most Pressing Climate Challenges for Youth in DRC & Priority Sectors

Key Challenges:
- Deforestation & Land Degradation: DRC has the world’s second-largest rainforest, but illegal logging and agriculture threaten ecosystems and livelihoods.
- Energy Poverty: Over 70% lack electricity, forcing reliance on biomass (charcoal), worsening deforestation and health.
- Water Scarcity & Pollution: Rapid urbanization and mining (e.g., cobalt) contaminate water sources.
- Climate-Induced Displacement: Floods and droughts disrupt education and increase youth unemployment.
- Limited Climate Education: Schools lack curricula on climate action, leaving youth unprepared.

Priority Sectors for Youth Engagement:
- Forestry & Agroecology: Promote youth-led reforestation and sustainable farming.
- Renewable Energy: Train youth in solar/mini-grid solutions.
- Water Management: Involve youth in clean water initiatives.
- Green Jobs: Link NDCs to youth employment in conservation/climate tech.

2. Key Challenges Preventing Youth Participation in NDCs
Barriers to Participation:
- Lack of Access: Youth are excluded from NDC consultations (often held in urban areas, in French, without digital options).
- Political Marginalization:Government processes are top-down; youth seen as beneficiaries, not partners.
- Funding Gaps: No dedicated budgets for youth climate projects or travel to engage in policy forums.
- Capacity Gaps: Many youth lack technical knowledge of NDC frameworks.
- Distrust in Government: Perception of corruption deters engagement.

Barriers to Government Collaboration:
- No Formal Mechanisms: Few youth advisory councils or NDC youth focal points.
- Bureaucratic Resistance: Older policymakers dismiss youth as inexperienced.
- Fragmented Youth Movements: Lack of coordination reduces influence.

3. Designing Youth-Inclusive NDCs & Roles for Young People
To Reflect Youth Priorities:
- Participatory Consultations: Hold town halls, digital surveys, and school-based NDC dialogues in local languages.
- Youth Climate Councils: Institutionalize youth representation in NDC drafting
- Transparent Feedback Loops: Governments must show how youth input is incorporated.

Roles for Youth:
- Co-Designers: Include youth in sectoral working groups (e.g., forestry, energy).
- Implementers:Fund youth-led projects (e.g., urban recycling, clean energy startups).
- Monitors: Train youth as "NDC watchdogs" using digital tools to track progress.

4. Policies, Resources & Partnerships for Meaningful Youth Engagement
Policy Actions:
- Mandate Youth Quotas: Require 30% youth representation in NDC committees.
- National Youth Climate Funds: Allocate grants for youth-led climate innovation.
- Climate Education Reform: Integrate NDCs into school curricula and vocational training.

Resources Needed:
- Capacity Building: UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF) could train youth on NDC advocacy.
- Digital Platforms: Create open-data portals for youth to access NDC progress reports.

Partnerships:
- Government-Youth Compacts: between ministries and youth groups.
- Private Sector: Partner with tech firms to equip youth with green skills (e.g., coding for climate apps).
- International Support: Leverage Africa NDC Hub or youth NGO networkfor mentorship.

Recommendations for DRC
1. Establish a National Youth Climate Task Force to advise on NDC updates.
2. Pilot Youth NDC Labs in Kinshasa/Goma to incubate local solutions.
3. Advocate for a "Green Youth Guarantee" linking NDCs to job creation.

My name is Bello Toha Adeyinka, a graduate of Chemical Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Science & Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. I had my industrial attachment in 2018 at Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA house, Alausa, Ikeja where I was exposed to Waste Management and Environmental Protection efforts which prompted me to make some findings and discovered the course Industrial Biotechnology, which is an offshoot of Chemical Engineering by combining the knowledge of biological systems and the application of engineering
processes in
-Waste Management
-Agricultural Production
-Environmental Protection
-Process Formation
-Alternative Energy Generation
-Medical Solutions

Between 2018 and 2024, I have taken courses in
-Couserra: Industrial Biotechnology sponsored by the University of Machester
-Couserra- Waste Management in Developing Countries, sponsored by Etiole Polytechnique de
Lausanne, Netherlands
-Allison.com: Environmental Policy & Application
-Edx: The Business of Biotechnology sponsored by the Machester Institute of Technology, MIT.

I have also registered as a member of
-YouthCafe in Kenya.
-Amnesty International.
-Internet Governance Society.
-United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP
-United People Global.
-Youth4Climate.
-Society Governance Environmental Initiative.

I have worked as a project staff at Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Ikeja Office in a position I have held since:
March, 7, 2022 to February, 8, 2025.

Am a novelist and my novels title are
-A game of Deceit
-The writing of a life
-What will be will be
I am a novel of Amazon Kindle in two versions with the Titles
-If I was President in a Day

Book 2: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DGTZX4BG

Book 1: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DGMVMBDK

I am also an Artist & poet with 21 so far hand drawn paintings and unfinished projects
-A total of 104 poems

And I & a female colleague of mine at LAWMA, Recycling Department by the name Oderinde Damilola
have formed a group which we aim to promote to an NGO by the name
- Green Shift Society, GSS
I have myself created a company name and the founder
-BellBanks Group
with 10 subsidiaries and with their own logo, I also have a Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cSPbWjau5h4?si=wPLyxdbe-LQCl9Lu

My hobbies are
-Reading, Travel, Playing Long Tennis, Cycling.
My favorite sports are Football & Basketball Ball. My favorite game is Monopoly

Currently am having a great challenge getting others to key Into my goals and projects about environmental issues and have gone to great length to sentisization of my immediate family members about their roles on the environment, am currently designing a website where I hope to use for marketing and public engagement to this effect because it will carry news about the environment, I am also in line to develop an application or deploy NFT in the environmental sector and my major headache in Africa here is packaging waste which constitutes environmental nuisance and an eyesore. Please I currently need a Laptop to work do check my funding page

https://www.naijafund.com/loginregister/my-campaigns/
so I can get along but please let's create a discord group where we can have fun, get to know each other better and also learn. Let's also unite as one and discard with being solo.

BellBanks Group.pdf4.58 MB

Greetings fellow Change Makers in climate Action.
I want to say than you to the team organizing and Coordinating this consultantion on NDCs on climate action.

My name is Frank Malunga from Zambia, I am a leader of operations at a startup NGO, the Scientific Initiatives for a Healthy and Developed Zambia (SiHDZ pronounced as seeds).

We look climate action, under a thematic areas we call "Cross cutting issues" where all issues of public importance fall. And this includes Climate Change.

Over the past year , we managed to mobilize young people from different areas and regions to engage in a number of activities including our Community Hygiene and Risk Reduction program, Eco-Literacy and climate action and also in our Community Involvement Advocacy (CIA) program.

And so we really have first hand experience of the challenges that us young face in climate action.

first and foremost, i would like to convey my best regards to all the youth of African climate change who have devoted their precious time to ideally transform the affected African countries by the natural disaster like flooding and other calamities.

I'm Samson Ngor Wal from south Sudan, one the most affected country by the climate change for instance if i could briefly remind about the 2020 disaster outbreak that led to destruction of houses and lost of lives in 3 states of south Sudan.

i experience the great role play by youth in climate change during the disaster outbreak in 2020 where youth took lead in the spare of dyke to prevent the the few areas which were not reach by the flood in those 3 states.

With our collective responsible in transforming and strategizing on how to tackle the climate challenges , we can make African a great continent through our participation and sharing of our ideas.

Hello Ziporah,

Let’s Talk Uganda’s NDCs, "From Youth Hustle to Policy Muscle"

Alright, I’m going to keep this real.

We talk about NDCs like they’re some high-level international policy document (and they are), but for me and a lot of other young Ugandans, they’re also painfully personal. Because if you’ve grown up dodging potholes filled with storm water, watching your crops dry up, or seeing your parents stress over rising charcoal prices, then you’ve already lived the effects of climate change.

So here’s my take, as a young person trying to straddle the line between law, activism, and getting paid while pushing for a greener, smarter Uganda. Let’s break down Uganda’s NDCs not just as a document, but as a mirror of our generation’s fight for survival and opportunity.

1. Youth Priorities & Climate Challenges in Uganda
Uganda is young literally. Over 75% of the population is under 30. That means climate change isn’t some “next generation” problem; it’s ours now.

The biggest challenges I see for youth?

• Unpredictable farming seasons: For youth in rural areas, rain no longer shows up like it used to. If your side hustle is digging with your parents, this is devastating.
• Floods in urban areas: In Kampala, just one downpour turns roads into swimming pools. If you’re a boda rider or a student walking to school, that’s your day ruined or your only income lost.
• Job insecurity: Climate impacts mess up agriculture, tourism, and transport sectors, where youth are trying to hustle. When the economy suffers, so do our options.
• Energy poverty: We’re still burning charcoal and firewood. Even in towns, blackouts are the norm. How do we build climate startups or learn digital skills in the dark?
In the NDC, sectors like agriculture, water, energy, health, and urban resilience should be top priorities if youth well-being is the goal. Uganda’s updated NDC gets this right on paper, but we need more focus on youth-specific solutions in these sectors. Not just general targets.
2. Barriers to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs
Let me be blunt, youth engagement in Uganda’s climate space can feel like being invited to a wedding when the cake is already eaten.

Some real barriers we face:

• Gatekeeping: You hear about climate consultations after they happen. Or if you’re invited, it’s to “attend,” not contribute. Youth need a seat at the planning table, not just the photo op.
• Jargon overload: Ever read an NDC? It’s like trying to understand WiFi settings in Latin. If policies aren’t written in accessible language, youth can’t engage with them meaningfully.
• No funding for youth-led initiatives: We’ve got ideas, passion, even networks, but without funding, most youth climate efforts stay at the idea level.
• Lack of feedback loops: When youth share input, does anyone follow up? Most of the time, it’s silence. So we disengage.
This disconnect between youth and government isn’t because we don’t care; it’s because the process doesn’t show that it values our input.

3. Making NDCs More Youth-Inclusive and Impactful
So, how do we fix that?

Simple: treat youth not as a “stakeholder” but as a co-architect.
Here’s what we can do differently:

• Co-create targets with youth: If you’re setting an NDC goal on “green jobs,” why not build that goal with unemployed youth, vocational institutions, or green startups?
• Localize youth action: Let’s connect national NDC goals to local actions. A tree-planting campaign in Kasese? That’s adaptation. A clean energy co-op in Gulu? That’s mitigation. Let youth own that language and link it to their work.
• Create youth climate monitors: Just like we have election observers, why not “NDC Watchdogs” led by youth? We can track if wetlands are being restored or if charcoal bans are enforced.
• Include digital activism in the process: TikTok, Twitter, WhatsApp, this is where the youth are. Use these spaces to crowdsource ideas, vote on priorities, and explain NDCs in plain language.

And let’s not forget storytelling. Youth experiences — from Mbale to Mbarara should be part of the narrative. Not just policy paragraphs.

4. What Support & Policy Reforms Do We Need?

If we want youth to be real players in the NDC process, here’s what we need from government and partners:

• Youth Climate Funds: Microgrants for school clubs, community projects, and climate entrepreneurs under 30. Let’s put some money behind the passion.

• Policy quotas for youth in climate committees: Not “youth reps” for tokenism. I mean decision-making power in national climate councils, district planning units, etc.

• Partnerships with the private sector & academia: Imagine if MTN or Airtel sponsored climate hackathons? Or did Makerere integrate NDC tracking into coursework? Let’s bring everyone to the table.

• Climate education for all: Start with secondary schools. Explain NDCs like you would a football match — what’s the goal, who’s defending, and who’s scoring?

Lastly, we need governments to report youth engagement results. If you promised to involve youth in your NDC, show us the receipts.

Wrapping it up...

The NDC isn’t just about carbon. It’s about futures. It’s about deciding whether our generation inherits a country that’s too hot to live in, too dry to farm, and too chaotic to plan.

But here’s the thing: we’re not just victims. We’re solution-builders.

So let’s move past symbolic “youth inclusion” and talk about youth co-ownership.

Whether it’s building climate-smart apps in Kampala, farming organically in Tororo, or leading climate clubs in Gulu, Uganda’s young people are already doing the work.

Now it’s time for the policy to catch up.

Thank you!
[email protected]

Lets connect; www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-yosia-zirintusa

❤️

Dans un contexte mondial de plus en plus marqué par les enjeux climatiques, il est crucial de comprendre les priorités et défis spécifiques auxquels sont confrontés les jeunes de la ville de Mbujimayi, en République Démocratique du Congo, afin d'assurer leur implication active et significative dans le développement durable et les contributions nationales déterminées (CDN).
1. Priorités des jeunes et défis climatiques
• Défis climatiques urgents :
-Dégradation de l'environnement : La déforestation et la pollution de l'eau sont des préoccupations majeures à Mbujimayi.
- Changements climatiques : Les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes, tels que les sécheresses et les inondations, affectent l'agriculture, qui est essentielle pour la subsistance des jeunes.
- Accès à l'énergie : Le manque d'accès à des sources d'énergie renouvelable limite les opportunités d'éducation et de travail.
• Secteurs prioritaires :
- Agriculture durable : Promouvoir des pratiques agricoles résilientes au climat.
- Éducation environnementale : Sensibilisation aux enjeux climatiques et formation sur les technologies vertes.
- Énergie renouvelable: Développer des infrastructures énergétiques durables pour améliorer l'accessibilité.

2. Obstacles à l’engagement significatif des jeunes dans les CDN
• Défis principaux :
- Manque d'information : Beaucoup de jeunes ne sont pas informés des CDN et de leur importance.
- Systèmes bureaucratiques complexes: La complexité des processus décisionnels peut décourager la participation.
- Infrastructures limitées: Manque de ressources matérielles et financières pour soutenir le financement et l'organisation d'initiatives dirigées par les jeunes.
• Obstacles à la collaboration :
- Méfiance envers le gouvernement : Les jeunes peuvent percevoir les autorités comme étant déconnectées de leurs réalités.
- Absence de mécanismes formels de consultation: Pas de cadres clairs pour intégrer les voix des jeunes dans les discussions politiques.

3. Rendre les CDN plus inclusives et efficaces pour les jeunes
Conception des CDN :
- Implication directe des jeunes : Créer des forums consultatifs où les jeunes peuvent s'exprimer.
- Reflexion des priorités des jeunes: Intégrer les préoccupations spécifiques des jeunes en matière d'environnement et de développement dans les objectifs des CDN.
• Rôles des jeunes :
- Acteurs clés: Les jeunes devraient participer à la formulation, mise en œuvre et suivi des CDN.
- Ambassadeurs de changement : Les jeunes devraient jouer un rôle actif dans la sensibilisation et l’engagement communautaire.
4. Renforcer la participation des jeunes grâce au soutien, partenariats et réformes politiques
• Politiques nécessaires :
- Politiques inclusives : Développer des lois et règlements qui encouragent la participation active des jeunes.
- Financement des initiatives : Allouer des ressources financières pour des programmes émanant des jeunes concernant les CDN.
• Partenariats et soutien :
- Collaboration avec des ONG: Établir des partenariats avec des organisations qui travaillent sur l'engagement des jeunes.
- Formation et mentorat: Offrir des formation sur le leadership et la gestion de projets pour renforcer les compétences des jeunes.

Dans un contexte mondial de plus en plus marqué par les enjeux climatiques, il est crucial de comprendre les priorités et défis spécifiques auxquels sont confrontés les jeunes de la ville de Mbujimayi, en République Démocratique du Congo, afin d'assurer leur implication active et significative dans le développement durable et les contributions nationales déterminées (CDN).
1. Priorités des jeunes et défis climatiques
• Défis climatiques urgents :
-Dégradation de l'environnement : La déforestation et la pollution de l'eau sont des préoccupations majeures à Mbujimayi.
- Changements climatiques : Les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes, tels que les sécheresses et les inondations, affectent l'agriculture, qui est essentielle pour la subsistance des jeunes.
- Accès à l'énergie : Le manque d'accès à des sources d'énergie renouvelable limite les opportunités d'éducation et de travail.
• Secteurs prioritaires :
- Agriculture durable : Promouvoir des pratiques agricoles résilientes au climat.
- Éducation environnementale : Sensibilisation aux enjeux climatiques et formation sur les technologies vertes.
- Énergie renouvelable: Développer des infrastructures énergétiques durables pour améliorer l'accessibilité.

2. Obstacles à l’engagement significatif des jeunes dans les CDN
• Défis principaux :
- Manque d'information : Beaucoup de jeunes ne sont pas informés des CDN et de leur importance.
- Systèmes bureaucratiques complexes: La complexité des processus décisionnels peut décourager la participation.
- Infrastructures limitées: Manque de ressources matérielles et financières pour soutenir le financement et l'organisation d'initiatives dirigées par les jeunes.
• Obstacles à la collaboration :
- Méfiance envers le gouvernement : Les jeunes peuvent percevoir les autorités comme étant déconnectées de leurs réalités.
- Absence de mécanismes formels de consultation: Pas de cadres clairs pour intégrer les voix des jeunes dans les discussions politiques.

3. Rendre les CDN plus inclusives et efficaces pour les jeunes
Conception des CDN :
- Implication directe des jeunes : Créer des forums consultatifs où les jeunes peuvent s'exprimer.
- Reflexion des priorités des jeunes: Intégrer les préoccupations spécifiques des jeunes en matière d'environnement et de développement dans les objectifs des CDN.
• Rôles des jeunes :
- Acteurs clés: Les jeunes devraient participer à la formulation, mise en œuvre et suivi des CDN.
- Ambassadeurs de changement : Les jeunes devraient jouer un rôle actif dans la sensibilisation et l’engagement communautaire.
4. Renforcer la participation des jeunes grâce au soutien, partenariats et réformes politiques
• Politiques nécessaires :
- Politiques inclusives : Développer des lois et règlements qui encouragent la participation active des jeunes.
- Financement des initiatives : Allouer des ressources financières pour des programmes émanant des jeunes concernant les CDN.
• Partenariats et soutien :
- Collaboration avec des ONG: Établir des partenariats avec des organisations qui travaillent sur l'engagement des jeunes.
- Formation et mentorat: Offrir des formation sur le leadership et la gestion de projets pour renforcer les compétences des jeunes.