Author: MY World Mexico

MY World Mexico is a national initiative supported by the UN SDG Action Campaign aimed to engage stakeholders and individuals in the SDGs implementation through direct people’s engagement through the use of the UN Global Survey For A Better World MY World 2030. Established in 2016, the initiative seeks to encourage public ownership of the SDGs in the country through creative and innovative communications, campaigning and policy advocacy. The initiative also aims to strengthen accountability mechanism and monitor SDG progress through generation/collection of data, evidence, and sentiment about the impact of the SDGs. Follow us: @MYWorldMexico

MY World Mexico’s Youth Taking Action in 2017’s HLPF

Written by: Karol Alejandra Arámbula Carrillo, National Operations Coordinator & Jesús Epifanio Vicencio Prior, Content and Writing Division at MY World Mexico.

Last month the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was held at United Nations Headquarters with the purpose of giving a space to different stakeholders for the sharing of their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The HLPF is the United Nations main platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs that provides the full and effective participation of all States Members of the United Nations and States Members of specialized agencies. This year’s team was “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”. The set of goals that were reviewed in depth were Goal 1 (No poverty), Goal 2 (Zero hunger), Goal 3 (Good health and well-being), Goal 5 (Gender equality), Goal 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), Goal 14 (Life below water), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the goals).

In accordance with Paragraph 84 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States decided that the HLPF shall carry out regular Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs which included developed and developing countries, as well as relevant United Nations entities and other stakeholders. The HLPF reviews this year were state-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants, and provided a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders.

This year’s VNRs aimed to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned with a view to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The VNRs also focused on strengthening policies and institutions of governments and to mobilize multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the implementation of the SDGs. The VNR countries submitted comprehensive written reports that were be made available in the VNR database. In addition, each VNR country provided main messages summarizing their key findings. In addition, the Secretariat invited all relevant stakeholders to host side-events during the HLPF. In total, 147 side-events, 3 special events, and 10 learning courses and workshops to favor the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of the SDGs were organized. MY World Mexico was able to join events daily and participate in key meetings with stakeholders at the global and national levels.

For this year’s HLPF five team members from MY World Mexico were selected by as a result of their work on the ground since 2016 to represent My World Mexico at this outstanding event.

As result, our participation increased the voices and impact of young people and volunteers of MY World Mexico due to the campaign’s work related to the implementation of SDGs and its monitoring through the MY World 2030 survey. In addition MY World Mexico’s partnerships strengthened with key meetings and approaches (like Ilmi Salminen, United Nations Youth Delegate of Finland; Anne-Sophie Dubrux, United Nations Youth Delegate of Belgium; Adil Skalli, Project Office, Climate Change, Global Goals Camp; Model Assemblies, United Nations Association in Canada; Steve Lee, Executive Director, Foundation for Environmental Stewardship, among others).

We were able to share best practices of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs locally, nationally and internationally, which were acknowledged by its focus on volunteering. On the other hand our team improved youth advocacy skills and got to explore new opportunities for MY World Mexico to improve and innovate our work (specifically, key points to improve MY World Mexico as a network of youth talent).

We established frequent communication and collaboration with youth around the world, to advocate for the involvement of young people in the governance processes aimed to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. This included a close dialogue with Mexico’s Presidency to interact on new ways to include youth in SDG action and discussion mechanisms at the national level.

Read MY World Mexico’s Full Report on the 2017 HLPF: here.

Thanks for being part of history at the Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development

Photo: Some of the Festival team members with volunteers at the Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development. photothek/Inga Kjer

We would like to thank everyone, especially the partner organizations, inspiring speakers and colleagues for being part of history at the first ever Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development on 1-3 March 2017 at the World Conference Center Bonn!

The Festival was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Hosts: UN SDG Action Campaign & Overseas Development Institute (ODI)

Organizing partners: City of Bonn, Cepei, Data-Pop Alliance, Engagement Global, Plan International, Salzburg Global Seminar, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Resources Institute (WRI)

Supporting partners: Deutsche Welle, DW Global Media Forum, European Union, SDSN

Plenary Speakers:

  • Mitchell Toomey, Global Director, UN SDG Action Campaign
  • Ishbel Matheson, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, ODI
  • Ashok Sridharan, Lord Mayor, City of Bonn
  • Dr. Alaa Murabit, SDG Global Advocate and UN High Level Commissioner
  • Dr. Ingolf Dietrich, Commissioner for Agenda 2030, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
  • Sarah Poole, Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP
  • Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO, Plan International
  • Paul Okumu, Head of Secretariat, Africa Platform
  • Kumi Naidoo, Launch Director, Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity
  • Claire Melamed, Executive Director, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
  • Casper Sitemba, Executive Office of the Deputy President, Kenya
  • Philipp Schönrock, Director, CEPEI
  • Soumya Chattopadhyay, Senior Research Fellow, Growth, Poverty and Inequality Programme, ODI
  • Meng Zhaoli, Chief Economist, Tencent Institute
  • Jakob Trollbäck, Founder, The New Division by Trollbäck+Company
  • Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information, UN
  • Karol Alejandra Arámbula Carrillo, International Affairs Consultant and MY World Partner in Mexico
  • Dr. Tauni Lanier, Executive Director, Impact 2030
  • Natalie Robi Tingo, Accountability Advocate, Restless Development
  • Emi Mahmoud, World Poetry Slam Champion
  • Edda Hamar, UN SDG Young Leader and Founder/ Director Undress Runways
  • Namhla Mniki-Mangaliso, Director, African Monitor
  • Pedro Conceição, Director of Strategic Policy, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP
  • Beckie Malay, Vice President, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement

Honorable Members of the German Parliament: Dr. Claudia Lücking-Michel, Mr. Ulrich Kelber

Nadira Hira for being a fantastic MC

DW Global Media Forum for hosting 7 minutes for discussion on the Live Stage

UNFCCC for supporting communications outreach, supporting the Festival comms team on-site and event security

The UN Bonn Common Information Unit and UNRIC for supporting the press conference and media outreach

The News and Media Division and UN TV from the UN Department of Public Information for coverage and the livestream

Deutsche Post DHL Group for providing the SDG postcards, mailbox and stamps

Amazing Youth Leaders for hosting the cross-generational dialogues on the Live Stage

  • Abinav Batachan, UNDP Panda Champion
  • Usman Khan, UNDP Panda Champion Bringing Education to Youth and Learning Initiatives (BEYLI) Organization Pakistan
  • Jilt van Schayik, Director Building Bridges Foundation
  • Edda Hamar, Youth Leader, Founder and Director of Undress Runway
  • Chernor Bah, Education Advocate, Girl Champion & International Development Professional
  • Frances Simpson-Allen, Programme Management Officer, Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth at United Nations
  • Rosario del Pilar Diaz Garavito, Founder The Millennials Movement
  • Alex Wang, Secretary General of Youthink Center
  • Cunsong Xia, Youth4SDG
  • Michelle Xinyang Mei, Youthink Center
  • Karol Alejandra Arámbula Carrillo, International Affairs Consultant and MY World Partner in Mexico
  • Natalie Robi Tingo, Accountability Advocate, Restless Development

The amazing Festival volunteers

All the participants who made the Festival an enriching experience, we hope to see you next year!

http://globalfestivalofideas.org
See Festival photos

Day two at the Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development at the World Conference Center (WCC) in Bonn, March 02, 2017. © photothek/Inga Kjer.

Sustainable Solutions: Global activists, business leaders and experts join the world’s first playable conference on sustainable development in Bonn

Photo: Over 500 delegates at the Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development form the SDG wheel at the World Conference Center (WCC) in Bonn, March 01, 2017. phototek / Ina Fassbender

Bonn, 1 March 2017 I Leading thinkers, policy-makers, business leaders and civil society activists gather in Germany for the first ever Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development, to chart new thinking and action on the world’s biggest development challenges at the World Conference Center in Bonn.

The Festival brings together more than 1,000 experts and activists from over 80 countries to join game designers and policy simulators for the world’s first playable conference on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Festival showcases the latest innovations, tools and approaches to SDG implementation, while building synergies, increasing mutual understanding, developing solutions and mobilising partnerships and resources to drive action for sustainable development.

Speakers include Alaa Murabit, leading international advocate for inclusive peace processes and UN SDG Advocate, Sarah Poole, Deputy Assistant Administrator, UNDP, Meng Zhaoli, Chief Economist at Tencent, one of the world’s biggest internet companies, David Donoghue, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations and Kumi Naidoo, Launch Director, Africans Rising For Justice, Peace and Dignity.

The Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development is hosted by the UN SDG Action Campaign and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and in partnership with an exciting alliance of international organisations. These include the City of Bonn, Cepei, Data-Pop Alliance, Engagement Global, Plan International, Salzburg Global Seminar, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), with other supporting partners.

The first day of the Festival featured the launch of the UN SDG Action Campaign and the opening of the Global Campaign Center. This year’s Festival is the inaugural event of an annual series hosted by the UN SDG Action Campaign in Bonn and is designed to meet the needs of the global community of SDG actors and advocates and ensure they have the innovative tools and approaches to accomplish their mission.

Inequality, globalisation, resource efficiency, advancing a green economy and sustaining progress in the face of disruptors to development are some of the key challenges the Festival will tackle. Virtual and augmented reality areas will immerse delegates in alternate life experiences from around the world, while a real-time policy simulation will lie at the heart of the Festival, exploring how we can collaborate to reach the Global Goals.

“We are here to connect the private sector, governments and civil society to provide them with the latest innovations and approaches to realize the SDGs. We have to make sure they can bring real solutions to their regions and inspire billions of people everywhere to work together to take action for sustainable development” said Mitchell Toomey, Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign.

 “The inaugural Festival will chart new thinking on the world’s biggest development challenges and mobilise key partnerships and resources to drive action now and in the future” said Alex Thier, Executive Director of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

“I am pleased to open the first Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development in Bonn. This Festival, supported by the German government, has brought together people from all over the world to advance the 2030 Agenda. The UN SDG Action Campaign, and its Global Campaign Center in Bonn, is a testament to the universal nature of the SDGs that will be a core theme at this year’s Festival and those to come. The aim of the 2030 Agenda is to bring about fundamental lifestyle changes in all spheres of society, to help to protect and sustain life and the climate on our planet” said Ingolf Dietrich, Commissioner for Agenda 2030, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

“Bonn is very proud to host the global campaign on the SDGs. This festival is a signal to individuals, communities, cities, organisations, businesses and other stakeholders of all kinds to be bold in their vision and to bring ideas together in a culture of cooperation. Bonn is a great place to do so, and we do our utmost to give this a boost by offering a local platform within the programme” stated Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan, who is also First Vice President of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability.

View photographs

Information and interviews

media@globalfestivalofideas.org

Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development
Connect with us: #GFI4SD / Facebook @GlobalFestIdeas  / Twitter @GlobalFestIdeas

Notes to editors:

  • In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.
  • The Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development is the inaugural event of an annual series of global gatherings, hosted by the UN SDG Action Campaign.
  • The UN SDG Action Campaign is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General administered by the UN Development Programme and mandated to support the UN system-wide and the Member States on advocacy and public engagement in SDG implementation.
  • The Global Campaign Center, recently inaugurated in Bonn with the support of the Federal Government of Germany, is a strategic hub for the UN SDG Action Campaign, key to the UN’s strategy of providing cutting-edge advocacy support, creative campaigns and big data expertise and analytics to Member States and partners across the globe.
  • The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is the UK’s leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues.
  • The 2017 Festival is organised by a coalition of partners including the UN SDG Action Campaign, ODI, the City of Bonn, Cepei, Data-Pop Alliance, Engagement Global, Plan International, Salzburg Global Seminar, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), with other supporting partners.

Immersive exhibition brings delegates closer than ever to refugees, displaced, and migrants during UNGA

The 71st regular session of the United Nations General Assembly met this past September, which also coincided with the High Level Meeting on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. In an effort to raise the voices are those most in danger of being left behind, the UN SDG Action Campaign brought two immersive technology experiences to the UN Secretariat Building, highlighting some of the most complex global challenges the UN faces. The particular focus on refugees, displaced people, and migrants allowed diplomats direct access and a deeper understanding of their everyday realities.

Haider al Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq speaking to a young boy displaced from Mosul
Haider al Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq speaking to a young boy displaced from Mosul
Ewan MacGregor, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF poses with young girl he met on his last visit to Erbil
Ewan MacGregor, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF poses with young girl he met on his last visit to Erbil

Above: Haider al Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq speaking to Waleed, a young boy displaced from Mosul by violence now living in the Harsham IDP Camp. Below: Ewan MacGregor, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF poses with Mirna, young girl he met on his last visit to the Camp in Erbil.

The United Nations Virtual Reality film series and Portals immersive experiences enables people to access locations and situations they would otherwise never experience, providing context for some of the most complex issues the UN is striving to mitigate. By doing so, the Campaign hopes it will help transform understanding of critical global issues that must be addressed in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals into a medium that is instantly empathetic and universally relatable.

Liliane Plouemen, Minister Foriegn Trade and Development Cooperation, Netherlands
Anifa Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia

Throughout the course of the week, Delegates were able to watch several films on the newly launched UNVR app (available at www.UNVR.org) about the everyday realities of refugees. Filmed in the Zaatari Camp in Jordan, Clouds Over Sidra recounts the new normal for a young girl from Syria, and Born Into Exile by UNFPA highlights the importance of providing safe births for mothers, revealing the amazing statistic that zero mothers have been lost at the camp. Beyond the Lake recounts the harrowing experience of a woman escaping violence in Burundi who is able to start a new life in the DRC through the support of UN Women safe spaces. UNOCHA also previewed Home, a new film documenting the UN Secretary-General’s humanitarian tour, highlighting the plight of refugees living in Lebanon, Syria and the DRC.

Delegates further had the opportunity to have full-body conversations with individuals living these realities, in real time, through the UN Portal, curated by the Campaign, Shared_Studios, and Bridges of Understanding. It is part of an international project with countless locations around the world by Shared_Studios. The UN Portal connected to the Harsham IDP Camp in Erbil, curated by UNICEF  Iraq, allowing delegates to speak to young Iraqis displaced by fighting in Mosul. It also connected to a refugee resettlement home outside of Berlin, where delegates could speak to people from Chad, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria in varying stages of asylum seeking, and to young people at the University of Kabul in Afghanistan with Turquoise Mountain Institute. In the afternoons, the UN Portal connected to Mexico City with an NGO called Proyecto Habesha that is supporting Syrian refugees in coordinates higher education degrees in Mexico.

Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands
Cristina Gallach, Under Secretary-General for the UN Department of Public Information
Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Special Envoy for Youth
Colleagues from UN Security and Safety
Youth from China
http://www.sharedstudios.com/mexico/

This exhibition was made possible through the political support of the Government of the Netherlands, the Government of Germany, the Government of Iraq, and the UN Department of Information.

The Campaign also shared the space with UNICEF’s Time Machine, an installation that  translating childhood memories from data into unique sound – giving visitors and delegates attending the UNGA an opportunity to understand the data on children currently available and areas that fall short.

Harnessing Youth Entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe: Key to a Better Future

Entrepreneurship is the key driving tool for most African economies. It facilitates effective economic growth and development for enhanced sustainability. Most young Zimbabwean entrepreneurs who strive to see a better Zimbabwe in the near future have taken this to heart.

The youth peak bulge has not spared Zimbabwe, as estimates reflect that it is probable that 60% of Zimbabwe’s national population is under the age of 30. Like many other young people in Africa, Zimbabwean youth have been challenged by the predicament of high unemployment rates and limited civic engagement opportunities, amongst other adversities.

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The informal sector dominates the Zimbabwean economy. More youth are now entering the scene with hopes of economic survival, yet the job market is not opening up enough opportunities for them. This has been lamented by many youth entrepreneurs. Despite many of them having received a good education, some are still unable to find stable, formal jobs.

Most universities are churning out more graduates than the economy can sustainably accommodate in its current state. However, many of the schools are also channeling out students who have more book knowledge than the technical skills required for self-sufficiency in the current market.

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The MY World global survey shows that in Zimbabwe most people want a good education. The sampled entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe reinforced this. They want to see an education system which explores more and delves deeper into instilling an entrepreneurial mindset in its curriculum. They wish to have an education system which is not over-reliant on job acquisition immediately following graduation, but one that instead focuses on acquiring a set of business skills which will help in the development and sustenance of entrepreneurial ventures. It is with this notion that the entrepreneurial spirit could be embraced and fueled by graduates, or within the universities’ immediate communities.

The exact unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is currently unknown, but estimates as high as 95% have been calculated for the country. Youths face an uncertain future, but for many of them hope has been rekindled with the surge of entrepreneurial ventures. The hope is to create self-employment opportunities that will lead to a constant revenue flow, allowing sustainability in line with household expectations.

The Building Bridges’ Road to Nairobi 2016 project seeks to harness the spirit of entrepreneurship within all youth to inspire hope for the future, in which effective growth and sustenance is in reach.

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Zimbabwean youth entrepreneurs face a range of challenges such as lack of financial assistance and restrictive government regulations on company registration. These difficulties hinder them from seeing their dreams as viable ventures.

Despite the many struggles that youth encounter along the way in changing the current economic landscape, they continue to shed light on the hope that entrepreneurship is key to a better future. From the exuberant energy exhibited by most entrepreneurs, it has been established that youth have the innovation and energy that is required to drive successful enterprises and entrepreneurial ventures

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Youth are characterized as vibrant, go-getters and enthusiastic, and such energy if well applied, will lead into the successful implementation of the SDGs. Zimbabwean entrepreneurs are working on challenges they identify in their communities, such as the lack of access to basic education, unaffordable healthcare, health problems due to poor cooking fuels and many more.  

The future is in the hands of youth who define and map the journey that lies ahead. It is with this notion that youth could be effectively equipped with the necessary business skills to be the ones to see through the successful implementation of the SDGs.

These are a few of the solutions to improve the entrepreneurial spirit amongst youth in Zimbabwe deduced from the hearts and minds of the surveyed entrepreneurs:

  • Terrence: Government should create an enabling environment, incentivize people through the creation of funding structures, and build a strong database for youth entrepreneurs to access mentorship who will oversee the successful running of the businesses.
  • Candice: Youth should be made aware of the beauty of entrepreneurship. People have great ideas but they can’t develop them without assistance.
  • Shaun: Government could have proxies in youth businesses to ensure that they are run sustainably. This way you can give funds and ensure they will be paid back.
  • Tinashe: Entrepreneurship should be made part of the curriculum. The youth needs to get inspired, motivated.
  • Tichaona: We need a hub for entrepreneurs. We need IT skills and to make changes through technology.
  •  Chiedza: We need a transparent government where ministers are held accountable. They should focus on advancement of the country rather than how much they can make by helping you.

Author: Kudzanai Chimhanda (Country Team Zimbabwe of the the Building Bridges Foundation)

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Championing Youth Entrepreneurship in Mozambique with Building Bridges

img_2571The Road to Nairobi 2016 Project, with the support of the local World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper Hub, traveled around the greater Maputo area to meet 10 youth entrepreneurs working in a variety of sectors, in order to learn from their challenges and to get a better understanding of their lived experiences. The ventures discovered ranged from a tech startup working on information asymmetry in the labor market, to a design firm which transforms waste into materials for interior design. These individual stories are featured on the Humans of MY World photo-narrative blog.

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The path of an entrepreneur in Mozambique can be difficult and trying at times; a few of the entrepreneurs we met noted how the economic climate is having an impact on their businesses. Even so, some young people are choosing entrepreneurship as an alternative to looking for a job, where they are confronted by a youth unemployment rate estimated at around 80%. The young people who are resilient enough to try youth entrepreneurship need support, role models and an enabling environment. 

Frederico Peres Da Silva, co-founder of a tech startup in Maputo, recognizes the importance of entrepreneurial role models: “If you are in the [United] States, a CEO understands the value of mentoring a startup. You know why? Because he’s heard of Facebook, he’s heard of Snapchat, he’s heard of WhatsApp. He goes, ‘Oh, what if this is the next Facebook?’ To change that perception in Mozambique you need to have a couple of references in the market. You need to have your champions.”

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Graca Machel, SDG Advocate speaks at the Mozambican Building Bridges Forum

Young Mozambicans that have taken to the MY World global survey prioritize good education as one of the key areas where  they hope to see positive improvement. The youth entrepreneurs we met further discussed the current education system and their experiences with it.  However, they are not only focused on education in general, but see the importance of having practical skills and experience in the workplace as the key to success in their entrepreneurial journey.

Lack of technological infrastructure and resources are other challenges to educational access and entrepreneurship in Mozambique. Frederico is using technology to help young unemployed Mozambicans access the job opportunities through their phones.

img_2754Where gaps and challenges exist, young people in Mozambique are stepping up to empowering each other and themselves. Marlene de Souza found that young people were unable to communicate and translate their knowledge into action in the workplace. She started a company which offers training to university students on skills such as how to successfully enter the job market and how to communicate with “attitude,” so that these students can bridge the gap between the academic and labor market.

Diogo Lucas started a business to help SMEs access finance and gave them the tools to mature into sustainable businesses. According to Diogo, this is something SMEs really need: “There are opportunities for small businesses but they’re not developing because there is not enough support, there’s not enough money. Bank finance is hard to come by with all these challenges. When I was travelling across the country I realized that it’s not because they have bad businesses. It’s because people don’t have the skills or the ability to access capital that can help them grow and develop.”

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Sázia Souza runs a company which offers tech solutions to companies and private individuals. Twice a month, she and her team trains children on how to use computers. When asked about her passion for technology and education, Sázia said: “Mozambique has a problem when it comes to using technology. People are not prepared for the future. Technology is growing too fast. When you go to some schools, they don’t even have computer lessons. Even the teachers don’t know how to use the computers.”

Youth entrepreneurs in Mozambique are working to carve a bright future for themselves. They are working together and with other young people to support skills development while growing a culture of entrepreneurship. To help them on this path, it is important to understand the Mozambican context as well as the lived experiences of rural and urban young Mozambicans in order to empower them for success. The Road to Nairobi team spoke to youth entrepreneurs and asked them what changes they would like to see to support youth entrepreneurship in Mozambique:

  • Lineu: More young people need to have the courage to start for themselves. I started with nothing and almost 100% of the people didn’t believe in me.
  • Claudio: When you register a business, you are sent from one place to another. The process will be better when everything is in one place. It should take less time and require fewer documents.
  • Wilton: Government must create conditions for young entrepreneurs to develop businesses. Especially fiscal policy because currently, police doesn’t differentiate between being a young entrepreneur or an old entrepreneur.
  • Sides: We need more incubators with people who have been trained to support youth entrepreneurs.

Authors: Samantha Ndiwalana (Project Manager of the Building Bridges Foundation) and Annemarelle van Schayik (Research Manager of the Building Bridges Foundation).

#UNGA71 – Bringing Peoples’ Voices into the mix

From Nigeria to China, From UNHQ to Microsoft, the SDG Action Campaign working with Multi-Stakeholders to Ensure We Leave No One Behind during the 71st UNGA.

It’s been a busy 71th UNGA week. At the SDG Action Campaign, we spent the week strategizing with partners from around the world on how to bridge the technological divide, adopt innovative communication methods and more effectively build multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder partnerships. This is done in the effort to ensure that throughout the SDG advocacy and implementation process, the voices of the most marginalized are heard loud and clear. Together with world leaders, governments, youth-led organizations, parliamentarians, and the private sector, this week we delve deeper into how to make the ambitious SDGs a reality for everyone, everywhere on a local, regional and global level. Here’s a brief recap of all the exciting innovations, conversations, events, and actions from UNGA 2016 Week!

At the Inter-agency UNDG Side-Event, SDGs Coming to Life, the Germany Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, made a clear call to action for everyone to join into the SDG Action Campaign. It was wonderful to see this packed event bringing together Member States, Civil Society, Youth, and Private Sector colleagues. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, urged everyone to take action and to bring inspiration to those who need it the most. Together, indeed, we will bring the SDGs to Life!

In case you missed this incredible event, check out the SDG Action Campaign’s newest video highlighting you, the people, and how we’re going to leave no one behind for the #SDGs.

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On 21 September, the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations co-hosted a UNGA side event with the SDG Action Campaign on multi-stakeholders’ engagement in the implementation of the SDGs in African nations. In his opening remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama illustrated the need for country-level, multi-stakeholder engagement, proclaiming that for the SDGs to be realized, we need ALL HANDS FIRMLY ON DECK.

For the SDG Action Campaign, the UNGA week came to a brilliant conclusion with the annual Data Playground event in collaboration with UN Global Pulse and Microsoft. Kicked off by a High-Level Panel discussion attended by the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor for Agenda 2030 and Senior Executives from Twitter, Microsoft and the Global Partnership on Sustainable Development Data. The event showcased innovative data and solutions from across the UN system, featuring showcases and workshops from the SDG Action Campaign, WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, OCHA and many others.

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Throughout the week, we had many visitors and received a particularly warm visit from the Campaign’s long standing Chinese youth-led organization partner, Youthink Center. 17 students and young professionals from across the country discussed with the Campaign grassroots engagement strategies for the SDGs and MY World 2030 as it relates to their lives and communities.

The @SDGAction helped facilitate a portal to be installed in the Sputnik Center inside of UNHQ. This offered world leaders an unique opportunity to virtually meet with refugees and people from vulnerable communities. The Netherlands was a major sponsor for the Portal by Shared Studios and Minister H.E. Ploumen used this innovative technology to meet and converse with refugees living in Iraq. Through the Campaign’s UNVR.org series, we were able to virtually introduce a young Syrian girl named Sidra who lives in the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan to the Foreign Minister of Malaysia.

Many of these activities were planned to fall within the inaugural #globalgoals week, a joint initiative of SDG Action Campaign, UNDP, UNF and Project Everyone. The week saw a huge host of activities to promote and engage people everywhere in the achievement of the Goals. The week also saw the SDG Action Campaign launch two exciting pieces of content in collaboration with the above partners, the ‘We have a Plan’ video and ‘Numbers in Action’ we encourage you to view these and give us your feedback. Let us all keep taking bold action towards fulfilling this ambitious agenda for people and planet.

So you ask, now that the GA is over, what’s next? Here’s a hint: See you in Bonn (Check out this video)!

Create your own Humans of MY World Project!

The UN SDG Action Campaign is committed to leveraging new technologies to involve the world’s most vulnerable into the decision making process, and to tell their stories. Since 2014, the Humans of MY World Series has partnered with individuals, UN Agencies and NGOs to capture the sentiment of individuals around the world, especially focusing on the most vulnerable. This series is shared in mini campaigns on Facebook, and the content is also integrated into our portfolio and exhibited alongside MY World Data throughout the world.

This guide will teach you how to collect your own Humans of MY World interviews and submit them to be featured on our page: https://www.facebook.com/humansofmyworld  

This Draft Toolkit includes information on:

  • The SDGs and MY World 2030
  • The Humans of MY World photo-narrative series
  • How to conduct the best interviews
  • How to take the perfect HOMY photo
  • How to submit the series and contact us

Click here to download the toolkit!

For more information about the Humans of MY World project, to get involved, or if you would like more customized content, please contact us at: info@SDGactionCampaign.org