Promoting Sustainable Development through engaging youth and women in the South-South Cooperation

Submitted by: UNEP

Related SDGs: Goals 5, 8 and 10

 

Objectives

The objectives of the forum are to:

  • Showcase and promote experiences, best practices and success stories of South-South and Triangular Cooperation that are being achieved through engagement of youth and women, which have the potential to significantly contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
  • Demonstrate how a youth engaged and gender-balanced integrated approach can contribute to the implementation and replication of South-South and Triangular Cooperation partnerships in areas such as capacity-building, technical assistance and knowledge/experience exchange and how these can be strengthened to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
  • Highlight the opportunities for young women to be empowered through South-South and Triangular Cooperation to tackle environmental challenges to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

 

 

Moderator

 

Mr. Jamil Ahmad

Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, United Nations Environment Programme New York Office


Mr. Jamil Ahmad is director of Intergovernmental Affairs of United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) New York Office. He leads work on sustainable development and the environment in support of the organization’s policies and programmes.

As an advocate of sustainability, he regularly engages with think thanks, universities, and research institutes, speaks to civil society groups, official delegations, students and other stakeholders about environment, climate change and sustainable development. He has been representing the UN Environment in international events.

He joined UN Environment in 2008 as the Secretary for the Governing Bodies based in Nairobi, Kenya (2008-14). He directed, managed and coordinated the Secretariat, led the organization of the sessions of the Governing Bodies and served as the focal point of UN Environment’s external relations.

 

Panelists

 

Professor Latif Dramani, PhD

University of Thies, Senegal


Professor Latif holds a PhD in Economics from Chiekh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal. He is currently a professor of Economics at University of Thies in Senegal. He is concurrently the Coordinator of the Center for Research in Economy and Applied Finance (CREFAT) and Coordinator of the Regional Excellence Center for Research in Generational Economy (CREG). He is affiliated with research centers from several universities, including University. of Manchester, Unversity. of Berkeley, University. of Parakou. University. of Cape Town, and University. of Hawaii in Manoa. Professor Latif conducts research in the following fields: Sustainable Development through the prism of Demographic Dividend and General Economy, Poverty Dynamics, Domestic Work (Paid and Unpaid), Women’s Contribution to GDP and the National Integration of Economies.

 

Ambassador Yuval Fuchs

Deputy Head, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV)


MASHAV is responsible for the design, coordination and implementation of the State of Israel’s development cooperation programs, promoting the centrality of human resource and capacity building. MASHAV has trained close to 270,000 course participants from approximately 132 countries in Israel and abroad. Ambassador Fuchs served previously as Ambassador of the State of Israel to Georgia, Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow and in various postings in Prague, Berlin and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.

 

Ms. Wambui Kahara

Regional Youth Advisor for Eastern Africa, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime


Wambui Kahara has served as Kenya’s Youth Representative to the United Nations appointed by the Kenya Government. She established the United Nations Youth Delegates programme in Kenya and was one of the coordinators of the UN Joint Programme on Youth. She also has professional experience in programme management at United Nations Development Programme, UN Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. Wambui has been part of the Kenya government delegation to the 67th-72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York (2012-2018), where her speeches have been endorsed by numerous standing ovations.

 

Mr. Ashwani K. Muthoo

Director, Global Engagement and Multilateral Relations Division, IFAD


Ashwani K. Muthoo, a national of India, has extensive experience in international cooperation, agriculture and rural development, management and development evaluation. He currently holds the position of Director of the Global Engagement and Multilateral Relations Division in IFAD. Prior to his current position, he was Deputy Director of the Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD (Independent Office of Evaluation). Mr Muthoo has experience of working in more than 50 developing countries in all regions, and is fluent in English, Hindi, Italian and Portuguese, and understands French and Spanish.

 

 

South-South and Triangular Solutions to be Presented

Youth and women, as two key stakeholder groups and contributors in the achievement of the SDGs, have a great role to play but are often overlooked. Opportunities to leverage the demographic dividend in many countries of the South are therefore missed. Given the evolving global context, there is a need to engage youth and women in planning and implementation of development efforts. Failure to do so could result in negative impact on human development. The global south is a major driver in global economic growth. Against this backdrop, South-South Cooperation provides an innovative and effective approach to respond to emerging economic and environmental challenges.

This solution forum at the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) 2018 will showcase best practices in engaging youth and women in the context of South-South Cooperation and highlight their contribution to achieving environmental sustainability. It will also explore how successful countries have harnessed the demographic dividend, and outline potential opportunities that more countries can benefit from. The Forum will highlight the role and opportunities for engaging young people and women in South-South and Triangular Cooperation partnerships to promote the use of an integrated approach towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Concrete Outcomes:

  • Increased awareness and understanding among countries and stakeholders on the potential and opportunities for youth and women in strengthening and widening South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

 

Focal Point Contact Details

Name: Shigang Zhang
Title: Principal Coordinator for South-South Cooperation
Email: zhang.shigang@un.org
Phone: +254 798474780