KENEMA, Sierra Leone, 21 September 2023 – The United Nations Country Team is facilitating a series of regional dialogues with young people on their critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and with support from the United Nations Youth Advisory Group in Sierra Leone.
The regional dialogues were initiated as part of this year's International Youth Day commemorations, bringing together young women and men from across the 16 districts of Sierra Leone. The dialogues are aimed at capturing young people's voices and identifying their perspectives on development challenges and solutions.
In addition to focusing on the International Youth Day theme of ‘green skills for youth’, the dialogues will also address issues of health, agriculture, climate change, skilling, gender, and drug use.
Speaking in Kenema at the dialogue for the Eastern region on September 20, 2023, Nadia Rasheed, UNFPA Sierra Leone Representative, stressed the vital role of youth in the country's development trajectory, emphasising that the ongoing dialogues will help in shaping development programmes in line with the ongoing development of the Medium-Term National Development Plan and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation framework.
"These dialogue sessions would serve as a valuable tool in guiding UN agencies and the government in shaping priorities and addressing challenges," Ms. Rasheed underscored.
Innocent Nuwagira, WHO Sierra Leone Representative, said he was excited to see young people coming together to discuss and define their interests while emphasising the power of harnessing the energy of youth for positive change. He said WHO was delighted to support the ongoing regional dialogues as young people would need information, skills and knowledge to make informed decisions.
Alhaji Mansaray, Kenema District Youth Chairman, said the dialogue allowed young people to discuss their future and create networks across regions.
Sahr Mangor, a 28-year-old youth advocate who joined the dialogue from Nongowa Chiefdom in Kenema district, reflected that it was instrumental in shining light on the challenges that youth encounter. “The recommendations from our discussions are a roadmap for positive change, and we sincerely hope that government, international partners and all stakeholders will pay attention to them. We extend our gratitude to the UN Country Team for providing us the opportunity to participate in the regional dialogue,” he added.
Young people participating in the dialogue selected to focus their group discussions on issues of health, agriculture and natural resources, drug abuse and mental health, and climate change, while also drawing attention to the cross-cutting importance of gender equality. They highlighted challenges they face in relation to these issues and proposed actions to overcome these challenges. These ideas will be shared with the United Nations Country Team and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, to be incorporated into planning processes and programme implementation.
Media Contacts:
John Baimba Sesay | Web and Media Analyst | UNFPA Sierra Leone | jsesay@unfpa.org
Madlyn Sharkah | Communication Officer | WHO Sierra Leone | sharkahm@who.int
