Roundtable: Catalysing Youth Empowerment through Global Partnerships
21 September 2024 14:30 - 15:45
Watch the Live Stream on UNTV.
The Summit of the Future presents a unique opportunity to address critical global challenges through innovative and collaborative approaches. The Education Above All Foundation (EAA) will partner with Generation Unlimited for a pivotal roundtable discussion focused on how young people can benefit from skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact opportunities to help them thrive in a green and digital world. Equipping young people with the education and skills necessary for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future aligns with the Summit of the Future’s objectives and desired outcomes.
In September 2024, Education Above All, Silatech, and Generation Unlimited will launch a partnership through a project called “Empower Youth in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan to take Climate Adaptation Action & Gain Employment” targeting 370,000 youth beneficiaries in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt over 3 years. The project partnership total budget is $32,933,498.
This partnership focuses on economically empowering young people and equipping them with the education and green skills to drive a more prosperous, inclusive, access, advocates for the most marginalized groups, and sustainable future.
Collaboration across sectors to foster sustainable development has been recently gaining momentum. Development players have started to work together more closely due to the ambitious scope of Agenda 2030, the limited financial resources available and the need to achieve greater scale. Governments, which are the primary drivers of development, have been keen to plug into these new vehicles. Some have provided non-state players, such as the private sector, foundations, and philanthropists, with a strong policy and regulatory environment, while others have co-financed initiatives.
This roundtable event will highlight the crucial role of inclusive global partnerships in empowering young people worldwide. Emphasizing the transformative power of collaboration, the event will highlight successful initiatives and innovative approaches that foster youth engagement and development across different sectors to achieve the sustainable development goals. By fostering a platform for dialogue and action, this roundtable aims to catalyze global efforts towards building resilient young people who are empowered to lead and innovate for a better world. In addition, through their global influence, Education Above All, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Generation Unlimited will invite additional partners from the public and private sectors to increase investments in the economic empowerment of young people worldwide.
Objectives
- To host an interactive partnership roundtable, that aligns with the Summit of the Future’s objectives of creating inclusive partnerships for lasting impacts on global youth empowerment;
- To emphasise the critical role that education plays in empowering youth to take necessary actions in their communities to tackle climate change; and, preparing them with the required skills to enter the green economy;
- To leverage the combined global influence of Education Above All and Generation Unlimited to invite additional partners from public and private sectors to increase investments in the green skilling and economic empowerment of young people worldwide.
- To connect educational leaders, policymakers, none state actors including philanthropic and foundations, and OECD for effective engagement dialogue, data, knowledge, sharing evidence and strategic insights, explore promising novel approaches, and engage in coalitions and partnerships.
Format
This gathering will bring together speakers from governments, the private and public sectors, international development organizations, and youth advocates to discuss and promote strategies for equipping the next generation with the education and skills necessary to drive a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future. It will also discuss the importance of inclusive multi-stakeholder partnerships - between the public and private sectors with young people - to ensure that every young person has the skills and access to opportunities to thrive in a digital and green future.
Themes
- Importance of inclusive global partnerships for lasting impacts on youth empowerment worldwide.
- Highlight the critical role of education and skills in empowering youth to tackle climate change and enter the green economy.
- Showcase achievements and comment on the critical need for regional partnerships to empower youth and advance the SDGs.
Tentative Programme
Opening:
- Mr. Ahmed Al Hajari, Youth Advocate, Education Above All
Welcome Remarks:
- H.E. Ambassador Sheikha Alya Al Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations
- H.E. Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Keynote Remarks:
- H.E. Ms. Lolwah Al Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation, State of Qatar
- H.E. Dr. George Kallas, Minister of Youth and Sports of Lebanon
- H.E. Mr. Farah Abdulkadir Mohamed, Minister of Education of Federal Republic of Somalia
Roundtable Discussion
- Mr. Fahad Al Sulaiti, CEO, Education Above All Foundation
- Mr. Kevin Frey, CEO, Generation Unlimited
- Ms. Bathylle Missika, Head of Division for Networks, Partnerships and Gender, OECD
- Dr. Issa Faye, Director General of Global Practices and Partnerships at the Islamic Development Bank
- Ms. Kate Behncken, Vice President, Lead of Microsoft Philanthropies, Microsoft
- Mr. Leonardo Framil, CEO of Growth Markets at Accenture & GenU Global Board Member
- Mr. Amadou Hott, Special Envoy of the President of the African Development Bank
- Ms. Vicky Aridi, Program Manager, YEO 2030 & Generation Unlimited Global Board Member
Closing Comments
- Mr. Hassan Al Mulla, CEO, Silatech
Signing Ceremony
- EAA-Silatech-GenU Project Signing & Group Photo
- Mr. Kevin Frey, CEO, Generation Unlimited
- Mr. Fahad Al Sulaiti, CEO, Education Above All Foundation
- Mr. Hassan Al Mulla, CEO, Silatech
Wrap-Up & Closing:
- Mr. Ahmed Al Hajari, Youth Advocate, Education Above All
