The Annual National SDGs Multistakeholders’ Conference 2024 was held from Monday – Wednesday, December 9-11, 2024. During the conference, youth representatives Eugine Okanda and Arnold Gekonge shared outcomes of the youth pre-conference hosted earlier on October 25, 2024 ( https://lnkd.in/daZ4HBZa ). The theme of the conference was “Solutions to Leapfrog SDGs Implementation in the Last Stretch to 2030.” Stakeholders participating included representatives of National and County Governments, County Assemblies Forum, UN Agencies, Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector, Manufacturers, Academia, Media, Youth Organizations, among others.

Challenges Highlighted:

• Lack of Motivation among Youth. Limited opportunities and systemic challenges can make youth feel powerless. Additionally, if young people don’t see how their actions lead to real, tangible change, it can be demotivating.
• Lack of Information and Capacity Building. In many communities, knowledge gaps and lack of access to training create barriers to effective SDG implementation. While some individuals may have expertise, this knowledge isn’t always shared or applied to solve local problems.
• Development initiatives, resources, infrastructure, and opportunities are often concentrated in urban areas. This urban bias leaves rural populations without access to essential services, including those related to SDGs.
• Youth involvement in initiatives often feels like a form of tokenism used to tick boxes rather than to genuinely showcase youth leadership and innovation. This can be deeply frustrating for youth who want to be meaningfully engaged but are often only included for cosmetic purposes.
• Fragmentation of efforts which is detrimental to the progress of SDGs – youth groups and initiatives work in isolation or compete with each other, it creates duplication of efforts and wasted resources.
• Lack of Employment Opportunities. Without stable employment opportunities, youth may struggle to prioritize SDG projects over personal survival needs.

Opportunities Highlighted:

• Leverage the existing partnership between SDGs Kenya Forum and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) to produce Citizen Generated Data to inform youth interventions on SDGs, by Youth Serving Organizations (YSOs).
• Youth interventions can influence Kenya’s County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) by ensuring inclusive participation, integrating youth-driven priorities, and fostering innovative solutions to address local challenges, ultimately driving sustainable development and equitable resource allocation.
• Youth can be empowered to leverage social media for funding by equipping them with digital literacy, storytelling skills, strategic networking techniques, and tools for creating impactful campaigns that resonate with other likeminded stakeholders and inspire sustainable investment – Digital Compact (Pact of the Future)
• The Kenyan CBC can empower young learners by integrating climate action, human rights, and sustainability into education through practical projects, value-based lessons, co-curricular activities, and digital tools. Partnerships with NGOs and government, teacher training, and competency-based assessments will equip children to become responsible citizens and advocates for a sustainable future.
• “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller – Stakeholders could leverage partnerships with youth-led and youth-focused organizations to implement innovative solutions to leapfrog SDGs in the last stretch.

Recommendations Highlighted:

• Advocate for youth involvement in developing homegrown policies and SDG implementation. Ensure youth representation in national and international SDG committees and create channels for their voices at all levels. Streamline the youth fund(s) to local initiatives that drive SDGs.
• Simplified Application Processes. Push for simplified application processes and clearer communication of available opportunities. Create platforms where youth can easily find information about grants, scholarships, and initiatives.
• Implement development initiatives, build infrastructure and share opportunities in rural and hard-to-reach areas to reach other youth who are often marginalized.
• Youth autonomy in leading projects and inclusivity. Advocate for the autonomy of youth-led initiatives and inclusivity in key decision-making process. Youth should be seen as partners, not just beneficiaries.
• Foster cross-sector partnerships and collaborations between youth groups, SDGs advocates, and organizations that align efforts toward shared goals.
• Create youth entrepreneurship programs and opportunities that provide training, skills development, and financial support for youth. Collaboration with other sectors to offer youth-targeted job opportunities in industries related to the SDGs.
• Include more youth representative(s) in the Inter-agency Technical Working Committee (IATWC) on SDGs. We recommend that one or two youth representatives of Youth Serving Organizations should be included in the IATWC on SDGs implementation and review in Kenya to bring in their voices.

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