Urban Youth-Led Development and UN-Habitat
Sun, 05/17/2009 - 21:46 — admin
Urban Youth-Led Development and UN-Habitat
Opportunities and Responsibilities for Youth to make a difference
The UN estimates that by 2030, 60% of the population will be living in cities. The challenges and issues in the cities will increase and thus reciprocally its responsibilities to address issues such as economy, illiteracy, poverty, climate change, violence, housing issues, etc
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. UN-HABITAT's programmes are designed to help policy-makers and local communities get to grips with the human settlements and urban issues and find workable, lasting solutions.
Further to the Resoultion GC 21/6 established at the UN-Habitat Governing Council in Nairobi, Kenya in April 2007, it has launched the Opportunities Fund for Urban-Youth Led Development. This effort of the UN-Habitat was acknowledged and applauded on behalf of the first International Youth Advisory Board (IYAB) by my colleague, Ms. Maria Fenanda Valencia at the GC 22 held recently in Nairobi, Kenya in April 2009.
The IYAB was established at the World Urban Forum IV held in Nanjing, China in November 2008 to represent the voice of the young people in the Habitat Agenda. Since then the IYAB having been working on the youth mandate and have been very actively lobbying at the recently concluded GC22 and beyond.
We appreciate the kind contribution of the Norwegian government for their commitment of $2 million for the Fund. And invite youth and youth led organizations to see this opportunity for their ongoing commitment to make this world a better place.
Young people have repeatedly demonstrated their capacity to actively work and advocate for both affordable housing and climate change on local, national and global levels from grass roots projects to international advocacy networks. And here is for us to take serious responsibilities for making the difference in own Habitat.
We shouldn’t let our age be a disadvantage to not take on responsibilities. But as a youth we should be innovative and creative to bring that change we wish to see in this world.
There are nine of us on the International youth advisory board (established at the World Urban Forum IV in Nanjing, China) who would be more than willing to help voice youth’s opinion at the UN-Habitat Agenda and to promote the youth agenda. Please joins us and feel free to contact us:
International Youth Advisory Board for UN-Habitat (2008-2010)
Africa
Musa Ansumana Soko M info@ypdatwork.org
Philomena Modu F pheeloh@gmail.com
Asia-Pacific
Anugraha John – ajohn316@globalcitizens.org.in
Lucinda Hartley - lucinda.hartley@gmail.com
Europe
Kristoffer Sundøy M: kristosu@gmail.com
Ljubov Ermolaeva F llina@inbox.ru
South America
Joao Felipe Scarpelini M joao@peacechild.org
Maria Fernanda Valencia F fe-valen@uniandes.edu.co
West Asia
Abdou M: aabdo84@gmail.com
The purpose of the Fund
The Fund aims to advance the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the HABITAT Agenda through piloting innovate projects on employment, governance, shelter and secure tenure; sharing best practices, and assisting vocational training and credit mechanisms to promote entrepreneurship and employment for young people.
For more details, please visit the website:
http://www.unhabitat.org/
Download the brochure