Youth-Led Innovation in Sustainable Development.

In 2015, leaders from across the globe came together and adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development along with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Eight years after its adoption, it is evident now, more than ever, that we need to implement crucial changes to make this agenda a reality. The only way to make this agenda a reality is through youth empowerment and leadership. In addition it is also evident that the youth have been leading the way on implementing this agenda through Youth-Led Innovation. The Sustainable Development Goals are being advanced through youth-led innovation, with a special focus on both Goals 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

International organizations and programs dedicated to sustainable development provide support and resources to increase the impact of youth-led initiatives worldwide. Greenprenuers is a free 12-week virtual incubator supporting young people to develop social enterprise solutions that address sustainability and climate change issues in their community. Greenpreneurs also offers regional programs in the Eastern Caribbean, the Pacific, and Rwanda. These regional programs provide incubation and accelerator programs for young green innovators and entrepreneurs, as well as green and sustainable businesses whose business models include solutions aimed at contributing to their country's climate and sustainable development goals. 

Youth Co: Lab is an initiative co-created by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation that aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. Since its creation in 2017, Youth Co: Lab has served over 15,000 young people and launched or improved over 1,700 youth-led social innovation and entrepreneurship teams. The success of this initiative has been thanks to the “Leave No One  Behind Agenda '' that has supported and continues to serves marginalized youth and communities. SDSN Youth was founded in 2015 by Professor Sachs during the SDSN Leadership Council's 5th meeting in Paris, with the goal of leading many global and local efforts in education advocacy for K-12, sustainable campuses, sustainable cities, and entrepreneurship.

Since its launch in 2015, SDSN Youth has been involved in 127 countries and has over 2600 program members and 750 member organizations.

SDSN Youth offers several global initiatives- namely: Youth Member Organisations, Volunteer Work at SDSN Youth Assembly and SDSN Network Memberships. These initiatives allows members to gain knowledge on the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) where they can then use this new knowledge to make a positive impact on their community through high-level business-oriented skills such as fundraising, project management, and leadership. Through SDSN Youth - Youth Solutions Program initiative,  the Investment Readiness Program offers a structured 16 week  accelerator program that provides youth innovators with 1 on 1 mentoring, training and networking with experts and other youth. The program has supported a total of 250 innovators across 118 countries. 

While organizations and initiatives like Greenpreneurs, SDSN Youth, and Youth Co: Lab are in place, barriers exist that seek to prevent youth-led innovation in sustainable development. 

Some of these barriers are as follows: 

1. Limited Access to Resources: Many young people  have such great projects that can make a positive impact and allow for sustainable development; however due to lack of funding the innovators are left in debt due to the use of their personal savings or via loan borrowing. Those that cannot afford to borrow loans or use their personal savings are not given the same opportunity as others with funding to develop and implement their project

2. Limited Networks and Opportunity to Collaborate: Many young people lack connections to mentors and stakeholders to whom they can share their ideas and resources with. Young innovators lack these connections due to geographical and social challenges. Geographical - In countries where these young innovators may reside they are not given the opportunity to connect with mentors and other youth innovators to exchange and promote these projects. Social - Youths may find it more difficult to interact with peers and mentors if they live in social isolation or lack access to community support systems. People may feel alone and unheard in areas where it is difficult to connect with helpful networks. Social: Youths may find it more difficult to interact with peers and mentors if they live in social isolation or lack access to community support systems. People may feel alone and unheard in areas where it is difficult to connect with helpful networks.

3. Generational Divide: Young people are often stereotyped due to their age and for being disrespectful and inexperienced. Fighting these stereotypes can be difficult but in the end proves to be a positive step in the right direction. Bridging this divide between age groups can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment;  allowing young innovators to prove themselves worthy and be valued for their contributions.

The significance of youth-led innovation comes from its ability to create solutions in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We must continue to support youth innovation and empowerment as our youth is the future. 

References.

1. SDGS: 2023 Investment Readiness Program for young social Entrepreneurs. (2023, February 10). YouthLead. https://www.youthlead.org/funding/sdgs-2023-investment-readiness-program-young-social-entrepreneurs

2. ABOUT | Youth Co:Lab. (n.d.). Youth Co:Lab. https://www.youthcolab.org/about

3. Greenpreneurs. (n.d.). GGGI - Global Green Growth Institute. https://gggi.org/global-program/greenpreneurs/

4. About us. (n.d.). https://www.sdsnyouth.org/about-us

5. Martin. (2023, December 12). The Sustainable Development Agenda - United Nations Sustainable Development. United Nations Sustainable Development. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/

Jelon Thomas

centrist_pediatrician

Jelon Thomas

17

Trinidad and Tobago