United Nations and Ministry of Youth Commemorate International Youth Day, Engage Youth in Proposing Solutions for SDGs Progress

Amman – The Ministry of Youth and the United Nations (UN) in Jordan collaborated in a momentous event to mark International Youth Day, coming together under the theme "Youth Lead."

The event featured high-profile Ministerial Roundtable discussions titled "Youth in Jordan: Halfway through achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," serving as a dynamic platform for youth engagement and solution-seeking.

The gathering witnessed participation of Ministers of Youth, Education, Higher Education, Agriculture, Political and Parliamentary Affairs, Social Development, Industry and Trade, and Labour. The United Nations Resident Coordinator and representatives from 14 UN agencies in Jordan also took part in leading discussion the alongside an enthusiastic cohort of 70 young people representing the Politics Institute, Crown Prince Foundation, We Are All Jordan and the UN Youth Advisory Council.

The objective of the discussions was to foster substantive dialogue on youth-centric priorities in Jordan and to ideate innovative strategies that expedite the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The deliberations revolved around seven themes pivotal in shaping a sustainable future for the youth and propelling the Kingdom's advancement towards the SDGs and 2030 Agenda: education, decent work and volunteerism, climate action, food and water security, political participation and peace, health and equal opportunities.

During the opening, Minister of Youth Mohammed Al-Nabulsi emphasized that this event reflects His Majesty King Abdullah II's vision to promote youth participation in public life and enable them to contribute to the decision-making process. Youth are seen as a crucial pillar in the modernization reforms, aiming to enhance political and economic opportunities for Jordanian youth.

The Minister highlighted that nurturing a young generation of leaders actively involved in political, economic, and social life is a national priority and that this is translated through the National Youth Strategy's pillars and the programs and projects it entails, focusing on youth skill development, capacity building, and their role in peacebuilding, community security, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

He further acknowledged that young people have consistently displayed a high level of responsibility and adeptly faced challenges, showcasing initiative, leadership, and innovative solutions across various sectors.

Emphasizing the important role of youth in spearheading sustainable development, Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, said: "At the mid-point in our collective journey to achieve the 17 SDGs, we see that much has been achieved in the past seven years, but much still remains to be done to save people and planet. The active engagement of youth in devising and executing solutions is pivotal to success,” she said.

Ritsema-Anderson further added, "By providing young minds with a platform to raise and discuss ideas with senior decision makers, we unlock a wellspring of creativity, energy, and passion to address complex national and global challenges. I commend the leadership shown by all participating Ministers today and applaud the commitment of young people to be part of finding answers to challenges. The UN is proud to partner with the Ministry of Youth, the Government of Jordan broadly, and with young people in this effort."

The unprecedented convergence of Ministers, UN leaders and young people generated a range of alternatives, initiatives, and solutions to pressing challenges relevant to the priorities of discussion. Outcomes of discussions will be submitted to the Government to propel the youth's voice and vision to the forefront of Jordan's development trajectory.

“Today marks an important step towards strengthening communication channels between one-third of the population - the young men and women - and decision-makers. This engagement is fundamental to breaking the cycles of poverty within Jordanian societies and improving economic and living conditions, providing the basis for nurturing educated and conscious generations. Investing in the youth is paramount to our mission,” said Nourhan Al Gharabli, member of the UN Youth Advisory Council on behalf of the participating youth.

UN agencies participating in the event included: UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNIDO, UN WOMEN, WFP, UNRWA, UNDP, UNV, ILO, UN Habitat, FAO, WHO, and UNESCO, magnifying the impact of the collective endeavor.

Simultaneously, the event witnessed the unveiling of the "#17Goals #17_جوول" online campaign, serving as an inspiring clarion call for action on the SDGs. Engaging activities, such as voting on SDGs, making pledges for SDG advancement, and a Global Goals vision activity, enriched the experience and participation for all attendees.