Date: 24th April 2024, 8am to 5pm

Venue: Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda

The event was facilitated by the United Nations Association of Uganda (UNA-Uganda) with representatives from UNA-Uganda, Open Space Center, Youth SDG Coalition, various universities and schools, AUNYD Fellows, and out-of-school youth from Kampala.

The consultation highlighted Uganda’s youth as a pivotal force for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the demographic advantage with a median age of 17.6 years. Government initiatives such as the National Youth Policy and the Youth Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Fund are crucial in supporting youth development and fostering innovation. Best practices include youth consultations, public-private partnerships, and technological innovations, but challenges persist in policy implementation, coordination among stakeholders, and mainstreaming youth considerations across all sectors.

Participants at the Youth VNR Consultation

To harness the potential of its youth and achieve the SDGs, the youth suggested that Uganda should:

• Strengthen Policy Frameworks: Regularly review and update policies based on youth consultations.
• Increase Investment in Youth Development: Allocate more resources and explore PPPs for internships and job opportunities.
• Promote Gender Equality: Implement programs to address challenges faced by young women and girls.
• Mainstream Youth Considerations: Integrate youth perspectives into all policies and programs.
• Empower Youth Participation: Enhance platforms for youth engagement in decision-making.
• Leverage Technology and Innovation: Utilize digital tools for youth collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish robust systems to track youth development programs’ progress.

The youth underscored the crucial need to invest in youth leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, mental health, life skills, employability, responsible citizenship, environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and patriotism to achieve a prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for Uganda, driving progress towards the SDGs.