YOUTH AT THE FOREFRONT: EMPOWERING THE FUTURE AT THE GLOBAL GATEWAY HIGH-LEVEL YOUTH EVENT
Brussels, October 9-10, 2024
Hosted by the European Commission, the Global Gateway High-Level Youth Event brought together young leaders from around the world to discuss the impact of the EU’s renewed youth agenda. The event celebrated achievements, forged new partnerships, and highlighted the pivotal role of youth in shaping the future of international cooperation.
A New Era of Youth Engagement
The occasion marked a milestone in the EU’s commitment to youth empowerment. High-level policymakers and young leaders shared inspiring examples of successful youth programs, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Youth Action Plan (YAP). A key highlight was the presentation of youth recommendations on international cooperation by members of the EU Youth Sounding Board for International Cooperation. These recommendations, developed through a participatory process involving young people from EU Youth Networks worldwide, emphasised the need for greater youth involvement in the implementation of the YAP in the EU’s External Action.
Youth as Partners for Change
With nearly half the world’s population under 30, and a significant portion residing in developing countries, youth perspectives are more crucial than ever. By 2030, 20% of the world’s population will be African, with over 55% of Africa’s population under 20, underscoring the importance of youth engagement in shaping global economic and political relations.
Some Takeaways:
Youth Empowerment: The discussions underscored that a healthy and informed youth population is the foundation of a resilient society and economy.
Global Gateway: The YAP provides a framework for engaging, empowering, and connecting young people internationally, making them strategic partners in the EU’s external action, particularly in implementing the Global Gateway strategy.
AU-EU Youth Lab: The AU-EU Youth Lab which includes the Youth Voices Lab and Youth Action Lab, play a pivotal role in ensuring that policymaking and decision-making processes in Africa-EU cooperation are more youth-responsive and inclusive.
Funding and Support: The Youth Voices Third Party Funding Mechanism supports youth-led advocacy initiatives, while the Youth Action Lab focuses on creating youth-led collaborative activities.
A Call for Action
The event emphasised the need for meaningful youth participation in policymaking and decision-making at both international and national levels. It highlighted the importance of co-creating data through arts to resonate with the realities of young people in Africa and stressed the significance of networking with EU alumni from mentorship schemes for sustainability. Research on past and future programs is crucial for effective advocacy.
As aptly stated by a representative from the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, “If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.” The Global Gateway High-Level Youth Event 2024 encouraged attendees to make meaningful connections and establish partnerships to drive lasting change.
