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Youth Advisory Board role in Enhancing Youth Engagement in the UNCT organized by UNESCO Office in Cairo
The United Nations (UN) has recognized the importance of meaningful youth engagement in its global commitments towards the UN Youth2030 Strategy. To address this, a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) has been established to ensure the active involvement of young people in UN Country Team (UNCT) processes, initiatives, and programs in Egypt. The YAB consisted of 16 diverse young individuals aged between 15 and 29, nominated by different UN entities, with the objective of enhancing understanding and engagement with adolescent and youth concerns in various contexts.
The establishment of a (YAB) within the UNCT serves as a mechanism to address the needs and priorities of youth. It enables a systematic and coordinated approach to youth engagement by bringing together beneficiaries from various UN entities. The YAB ensures that the voices of young people are heard and considered in decision-making processes, leading to more effective and meaningful youth-focused programs and initiatives.
To kickstart the operationalization of the YAB within the UNCT, a 2-day workshop was organized, on 22nd and 23rd of June 2023. The workshop aimed at providing capacity-building training and orientation for YAB members on relevant topics related to youth engagement and advocacy.
The workshop consisted of various sessions and activities aimed at achieving the desired objectives. The outcomes of the workshop included the development of an informed, empowered youth advisory board as well as the development of a preliminary action plan that identified youth challenges and priorities in Egypt that the UNCT can better address.
鈥My role here is to make sure that the vulnerable communities such as the refugee community, and the migrant communities are represented, and as a team to come up and help in decision, making to have a clear strategy on how we could engage with鈥 鈥 Emannuel; YAB Participant
The establishment of a Youth Advisory Board within the UNCT is crucial for ensuring meaningful youth engagement in decision-making processes. Through capacity-building workshops, the YAB can empower young people to effectively advise and collaborate with the UNCT, leading to the development of youth-focused programs and initiatives that address the needs and priorities of young people in Egypt. The YAB workshop serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, skill development, and action planning, setting the stage for impactful youth engagement within the UNCT.
鈥淚 see that this youth participation will always add to us a new perspective in the solutions that we propose to the problems of sustainable development. This new perspective has more innovation, there is more awareness of their needs as a youth group and the needs of their society from which they come from in different forms of these societies, there is more awareness of technology and modern methods that We can put it to solve problems鈥- Menna, YAB Participant
More links to UNESCO Cairo Office efforts in youth include:
