Since inception our impact spans across 45 countries, where we’ve empowered over 10,000 youth, cut emissions by 258.11tCO2, engaged in 100 speaking events, forged 20 key partnerships, attended international conferences in 17 countries, and executed three impactful sustainable projects.
The Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN) played a crucial role in shaping the discourse on climate and energy at the 28th Session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates. A significant achievement was YSDN officially joining the United Nations Energy Compact at COP28. This compact signifies a commitment to collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable energy goals, solidifying YSDN’s position as a key player in the global energy transition landscape. Read the YSDN Commitments here
At the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum 2023, the Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN), represented by its CEO, played a significant role in advocating for the necessity of youth re-skilling and upskilling in the energy sector. While also focusing on grassroots-driven efforts, the YSDN CEO highlighted the significance of concessional financing from international financial institutions in addressing the impact of climate change, and facilitating the transition to clean and affordable energy. Watch the Full Speech here
At the 27th session of the Conference of Parties, the Youth Sustainable Development Network was present as an Observer and participated in sessions in line with its core mandates. One of our major highlights was our active participation in the drafting and presentation to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a few Heads of State, a National Educational Action Plan on how to drive Nigeria’s carbon neutrality and sustainability agenda.
In December 2022, representatives from the Directorate of Social Development, Director of the Directorate of International Development from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Consulate extended an invitation to the Youth Sustainable Development Network to engage on educational needs and skills gaps in Nigeria.
Discussing youth participation /engagement in policy process and how Netherlands Consulate can play a role to amplify young voices, the Youth Sustainable Development Network proposed the need to gain insights on the startup ecosystem & identification of challenges of young entrepreneurs, promote ease of doing business and access to finance and partners as viable means to address youth unemployment and unemployability in Nigeria.
The 3zero World forum hosted by Convergences and ACTED at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, France. The YSDN was represented by its Head of Outreach and Advocacy. Through the Head of Outreach and Advocacy, the YSDN presented in a session focused on the role of Intergovernmental Organizations and youths to capitalize on sustainable grassroots projects. Using the Youth Sustainable Development Network as a point of focus, the YSDN Head of Outreach and Advocacy shed light on how youth are building mini sustainable projects at the grassroots to over 500 participants present.
As one of the Youth Delegation of the Africa-Europe Foundation present at the Sustainable Energy for ALL forum in Kigali, the YSDN CEO co-chaired a roundtable with Mary Robinson, Honorary President of the Africa-Europe Foundation, Chair of the Elders, and former President of Ireland, and lead initiator of the AEF’s Women Leaders Network and the key outcome of the roundtable focused on support for youth led actions towards a just transition across Africa and Europe and bearing in mind the current realities of both continents while also integrating electricity access and clean cooking into energy planning in the context of Africa and Europe Partnership.
In 2021, in a bid to address the high cost of energy and intense decline of water supply faced by local farmers, the YSDN launched the Solar Irrigation Project, having raised USD5,000 to support farmers in Lagos, Nigeria to have access to knowledge, management, and equipment on irrigation that supports them to practice all year production. This solution helped the farmers increase farm productivity by 50% and income by 70%.
See project video here
In the fight for climate justice, young people around the world are relentlessly advocating for a livable planet and the possibility of an equitable future. It is on this basis that the International Solidarity PostCard Project, a project organized by Enabel, Methos and the Youth Sustainable Development Network sought to shed light on the impact of climate change.
Using the COP27 as a leverage, the essence of the postcard helped to visualize the realities of climate change victims around the world, as this cards were sent from individuals facing serious impact of climate change across different communities in the world to world leaders and key decision makers present at COP27 on the need to take urgent actions in tackling climate change.
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