SDGs | UN | NAMONDO

KAMPALA - The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Susan Namondo, has called for young people’s active participation in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (Photo by Violet Nabatanzi)

Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Speaking during a weeklong Africa United Nations Youth Delegate training programme at Grand Global Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday, Namondo said the global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have affected the implementation of development plans.

"Every country had the challenges that they had to deal with like Uganda recently had to deal with Ebola. So we were challenged in terms of implementation of development plans and we need everyone’s engagement to go faster," she said.

Namondo also urged the youth to read and understand the multilateral system.

‘’In my view, this multilateral system is beginning to face challenges and we need ideas in terms of what should be going forward, and those ideas are probably going to come from the youth,’’ she said.

Frederick Broers from CRISP said their project is a follow-up to the recent project they launched in Sudan, where they worked with 20 youth, adding that it is now expanded to six countries, including Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

He said the Ugandan youth delegation will be among many youths representing their nations at the UN General Assembly this September. He noted that previously, young people had little representation at the UN.

Richard Baguma, the secretary general of the United Nations Association of Uganda, said during the training, participants were empowered with skills to take on leadership roles at the global and national levels.

"We are preparing a team of young Ugandans to be delegated to the United Nations," he said.

"We also want them to be champions for developments and transformation and to be able to work within Uganda’s development frameworks and take the development agenda to the grassroots, particularly among the young people."

Mercy Masika, a graduate nurse from Uganda Christian University, said the training is an opportunity to help her gain the skills that will help her efficiently carry out community activities.