Accelerating SDG Implementations: Why Youth Engagement is No Longer Optional

Introduction 

In 2015, the UN General Assembly passed resolution 70/1, titled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ – a plan of action to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets by 2030. These goals, meant for all nations, people of all ages and all societies, address critical global issues – ranging from poverty and inequality to climate action and peace. 

Now as we approach 2030, it is evident that the world is behind schedule and not on track to achieve many of the SDGs by 2030. At the midpoint of the SDG timeline, the 2023 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development provided a sobering reality check: only 15% of the SDG targets are actually on track. This meeting came at a crucial time when adverse climate change, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts, have significantly delayed and in some cases even reversed the progress towards the SDGs. Yet, member states reaffirmed their commitment to this transformative agenda, endorsing a political declaration to accelerate efforts.

With just six years left to achieve the SDGs, accelerating collective efforts towards sustainable development no longer is just an option – it has become a necessity. However, this would require some major commitments and real action towards the SDGs from governments, institutions and societies. Among these actions, one of the most sustainable and impactful strategies lies in mobilizing and empowering youth. This commentary examines the critical role of youth in advancing the SDGs, explores strategies to empower them, and addresses systemic challenges hindering their participation.

Who are the Youth?

The United Nations defines youth as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to the independence of adulthood involving personal development, maturity and self-reliance. This period can also be defined in relation to education and employment, as the transition from leaving compulsory education and securing one’s first job. 

The duration and the timeframe for this transition can vary across countries and regions depending on the specific socio-cultural, institutional, economic and political factors. In developing nations, this transition can take longer due to systemic challenges like poverty and limited access to opportunities. However, for statistical consistency, the United Nations sticks to the age range of 15 – 24 years for defining ‘youth’. Globally, there are around 1.2 billion young people in this age bracket, comprising approximately 16% of the world’s population. The figure is projected to grow by 7% by 2030. 

The period of youth is a critical time for developing insights into citizenship issues and for deepening the sense of community and the collective interdependence of society. It is a time of both personal and social development. When supported by conducive environments, this phase lays the foundation for a sound, informed and prosperous adulthood. 

Youth as Torchbearers of the SDGs

Young people have much at stake when it comes to the 2030 agenda. The failure to implement the SDGs will disproportionately affect them since they are the generation that will “take over” from the current generation. 

Although they will be the ones to face the consequences of the actions and decisions made by the policymakers, governments, institutions and other stakeholders, young people are mostly excluded from these decision-making processes. They are often perceived as lacking the capacity and agency compared to adults. This exclusion is also reflected in many programs targeting youth, which frequently adopt a top-down approach, treating them as passive recipients rather than active contributors. Such initiatives are concerned more with the prevention of problem behaviours rather than nurturing the potential of young people. Consequently, these approaches fail to recognize the transformative power of youth as active participants in shaping their futures and driving sustainable development. 

Despite these systematic challenges, there has been a rise in the number of young people around the world who are passionately leading change-making initiatives in their communities. Young people are intimately familiar with the day-to-day realities of their communities. They possess invaluable insights into their neighbourhoods, recognizing both their strengths and vulnerabilities. This firsthand knowledge, coupled with their fresh perspective, unbridled passion, and idealism can empower them to craft innovative solutions to complex issues.

Moreover, their proficiency with technology and social media empowers them to amplify their messages and engage with wider audiences. By mobilizing their peers and inspiring active involvement, they can create a powerful force for change. 

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres referred to young people as the torchbearers of the SDGs. He has also reaffirmed that “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a seismic shift – which can only happen if we empower young people and work with them as equals.” Therefore, to tap into the potential of youth National governments around the world should engage young people in the different phases of the sustainable development agenda — planning, designing, implementing and reviewing. Additionally, nations must take a bottom-up approach to programs that will encourage youth empowerment.

Empowering The Youth

Empowerment takes place when an individual gains control and mastery within the social, economic and political contexts of their lives to improve equity and quality of life (Zimmerman, 2000). Empowering youth is, thus, a multidimensional process which involves psychological, social, economic and political empowerment. It focuses on the strengths of young people rather than their limitations, enabling them to actively participate in decision-making processes and influence the environments that shape their lives. Empowerment equips them with the skills, critical awareness, and participatory competence needed to navigate challenges, make meaningful contributions to their communities as well as contribute to governance and development processes effectively.

Young people around the world face systemic and structural barriers that hinder their involvement in decision-making processes. From the youth consultations conducted by the United Nations in 2023, young people around the world highlighted some of the key recommendations for facilitating their engagement in achieving sustainable development goals:

1. Youth as Partners: At all levels, youth want to be acknowledged as equal partners in the formulation of policies and decisions. They wish to work with their governments, the UN, civil society, the commercial sector, and other decision-makers to contribute to processes from conception to completion. 
2. Institutionally Mandated: Youth advocate for their formal engagement in policy-making and decision-making processes to prevent ad hoc approaches and integrate their views and recommendations throughout the entire process.
3. Provision of Resources: Young people advocate for adequate funding for their participation in decision-making processes and youth-led SDG implementation initiatives, regardless of language, education, or financial status. They emphasize the importance of investing in an enabling environment to empower every young person.
4. Rights-Based and Safe: Youth emphasize the importance of respecting and protecting their fundamental human rights, including their participation in decision-making processes. Meaningful civic engagement requires safety and protection, especially in communities devastated by war. Therefore, they demand measures to protect youth from threats and attacks at all levels.

NGOs For Youth Empowerment

Empowering youth requires many forces to come together and work towards it. One such force is non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working towards youth empowerment. They play an important role by working on the following issues:

1. Creating Educational Opportunities: Non-profits can be instrumental in expanding access to education and improving its quality. Through scholarships, mentorship programs, and skills training, they can make sure that all young individuals have the opportunity to develop their intellectual and personal capabilities.
2. Working towards Economic Inclusion: Many NGOs for youth empowerment focus on economic empowerment by offering entrepreneurship training, micro-loans, and job placement programs. By providing the resources for financial independence, these organisations help young people break the cycle of poverty.
3. Promoting Health and Well-being: A key element of youth empowerment is health because a healthy young person will be better equipped to pursue empowerment opportunities. NGOs work on improving access to healthcare, promoting mental health awareness, and raising awareness on issues such as substance abuse and sexual health concerns.
4. Promoting Civic Engagement: Another pillar of youth empowerment is civic participation. NGOs encourage youth to engage in community development, volunteer work, and advocacy, fostering a sense of social responsibility.
5. Personal Development and Mentoring: By offering mentorship programs that help young individuals build their self-esteem, develop life skills, and set and achieve personal goals, NGOs empower youth to overcome challenges and setbacks.

Strategies for Youth Empowerment

The government should launch initiatives to promote youth participation that address immediate and long-term structural inequalities to participation. One strategy is to shift the focus from how young people should participate, to how adults in positions of power should engage with young people. To be effective, initiatives for youth engagement should seek to maximize young people’s agency within social and political structures; transform adult and institutional perceptions of young people in dialogue with young people; and, generate new policy processes and organizational forms

Focusing on critical youth empowerment is another important strategy. Jenning et al., proposed critical youth empowerment (CYE) as a conceptual framework to engage youth in actions that drive change in societal policies, structures, and values. The six dimensions of CYE are:

1. A welcoming and safe environment: A supportive, safe space where youth feel valued and respected, fostering growth through both success and failure with adult guidance.
2. Meaningful participation and engagement: Empowering youth through real challenges, skill development, and decision-making, leading to confidence and sustained engagement.
3. Equitable power-sharing between youth and adults: Balanced decision-making between youth and adults, where adults gradually transfer power to encourage autonomy and skill development.
4. Engagement in critical reflection on interpersonal and sociopolitical processes: Engaging youth to reflect on and challenge social structures, using creative methods like art to explore sociopolitical issues, guided by skilled adults.
5. Participation in socio-political processes to effect change: Emphasize youth participation in sociopolitical processes to drive social change, not just civic service. It empowers youth to understand and challenge underlying structures and values, leading to transformative actions like policy advocacy and public education. 
6. Integrated individual- and community-level empowerment: Promote change at both individual and community levels. It enhances self-efficacy in youth while encouraging community engagement and collective action. It helps youth understand and address sociopolitical issues, fostering critical awareness and skills for social change. Successful programs often involve community partnerships, especially for marginalized groups, to create lasting social impact.

Finally, strategies that can significantly enhance youth empowerment include: 

1. Creating Inclusive Policy Frameworks: Governments should draft strong legislation that actively incorporates the opinions of young people into the planning, carrying out, and assessing phases of the SDG implementation process. 
2. Capacity Building for Leadership and Advocacy: Investing in leadership programs, workshops, and training sessions designed for youth can equip them with the skills necessary to lead change.

3. Leveraging Innovation and Technology: In order to promote youth engagement, digital platforms and technologies should be used. For example, youth-driven ideas and solutions for SDG concerns can be crowdsourced by governments and organisations through the development of online portals or mobile apps.
4. Strengthening Community-Based Initiatives: Empowerment of youth must start at the local level. Local hackathons and innovation labs are examples of community-driven projects that can give young people a platform to create context-specific answers to SDG problems.
5. Promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): By incorporating SDG instruction into university and school curricula, a generation of young people who are knowledgeable about sustainable behaviours can be produced.
6. Recognizing and Celebrating Youth Achievements: Establishing awards, scholarships, or recognition programs for youth leaders and innovators can inspire others to contribute actively. Platforms that showcase their success stories can amplify their impact and motivate collective action.

Conclusion

Empowering young people is the cornerstone of a sustainable and equitable future. With their energy, creativity, and resilience, young people have the potential to transform global challenges into opportunities for progress. However, realizing this potential requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders—governments, NGOs, private enterprises, and communities—to create enabling environments that nurture their talents and amplify their voices.

Prioritising youth empowerment and incorporating their perspectives into SDG initiatives will help us find creative solutions, strengthen global solidarity, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. As we move closer to 2030, the world must invest in its most valuable resource—its young people—to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and beyond.

References

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/6/3426

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331701833_Who_are_youth-_The_search_for_a_comprehensive_definition

https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/apssr/vol24/iss3/4/

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000387755

https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/youth#:~:text=Today%2C%20there%20are%201.2%20billion,cent%2C%20to%20nearly%201.3%20billion.

https://www.un.org/en/conferences/SDGSummit2023

https://amg.um.dk/tools/youth-in-development/youthhood-a-period-of-personal-and-social-development

https://www.idea.int/news/2023-sdg-summit-achievements-challenges-and-role-democracy

https://www.un.org/en/with-less-than-one-fifth-of-targets-on-track#:~:text=The%20report%20reveals%20that%20only,one%2Dthird%20stalled%20or%20regressing.

https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Torchbearers-for-the-SDGs-Consultations-on-Meaningful-Youth-Engagement-and-the-2030-Agenda-Outcome-Document.pdf

https://ngofeed.com/blog/ngos-empowering-youth/#:~:text=NGOs%20are%20instrumental%20in%20expanding,their%20intellectual%20and%20personal%20capabilities.

Jennings, L. B., Parra-Medina, D. M., Hilfinger-Messias, D. K., & McLoughlin, K. (2006). Toward a Critical Social Theory of Youth Empowerment. Journal of Community Practice, 14(1–2), 31–55. https://doi.org/10.1300/j125v14n01_03

Zimmerman, M. A. (2000). Empowerment theory: Psychological, organizational, and community levels of analysis. In J. R. E. Seidmann (Ed.), Handbook of community psychology. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum