Side event details
This side event will reflect on the various capacity development activities offered by humanitarian, development and environmental organizations on a global scale, including Ramsar International Organization Partners, Official Observer Organizations and more. The event will ask the question if the current offers fully cover the needs of young people active in wetland conservation and sustainable use. Several NGOs, CSOs and UN agencies will give a short and concrete overview over their activities in capacity development and youth involvement related to wetlands in short pitches (5 mins). The pitches will focus on the question of specific target groups, concrete learning experience, particular means, outreach and limitations.
In a moderated interview dialogue, the session will involve the perspective of representatives of Youth Engaged in Wetlands, the Ramsar Youth Working Group and other youth attendees. The young people will reflect on the various offers and exchange about the different approaches. With this, panel and audience will together analyse possible gaps and gather information for a common petition for supporting these additional approaches. Comments and insights will be gathered and compiled into a draft paper after the COP15. This will be shared with the organizations and beyond for further development and support for youth activities. The representation of the various approaches on a common and easily accessible online resource will be discussed.
Objectives and Outcome:
- Better knowledge of offers for youth empowerment and engagement in wetlands.
- Improved understanding of needs and perspectives of young people.
- Vison on open questions on youth engagement.
- Aspects to integrate a common programme for youth support by different agencies that include humanitarian, development and environmental organizations on wetland conservation.
- Draft action plan for youth activities in wetland conservation.
Provisional programme:
Welcome and House Rules (2 mins)
Opening Remarks (8 mins)
- Recorded - by Secretary General, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (TBC)
- Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer protection.
- GVT of Zimbabwe Representative, Ministry of Youth
- Youth Engaged in Wetlands
Introduction to the Session (5 mins)
- Udo Gattenlöhner, CEO Global Nature Fund
- Thandeka Ndlela, Youth Engaged in Wetlands
Learnings from the Practice of Youth Engagement in Zimbabwe (3 mins each)
Moderation: Tsitsi Wutawunashe, UNDP-GEFSGP
- Centre for Agro-entrepreneurship and Sustainable Livelihoods Trust (CASL) - Respect Musiyiwa
- Community Water Alliance - Hardlife Mudzingwa, Director
- Pascal Manyakaidze - Local Initiatives Development Agency (LID)
- African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Zimbabwe - Jean Beatrud Mhandu
Pitching capacity development offers and activities for youth (3 mins each)
Moderation: Udo Gattenlöhner, GNF
- Living Lakes Academy (GNF, Udo Gattenlöhner)
- UNDP Support for Youth Initiatives (UNDP, Constance Pepukai)
- World Water Quality Alliance (UNEP, Anham Salyani)
- World Wetlands Network (WWT, Tina Redshaw Tina)
- IHEDelft (IHE, Anne van Dam)
- Global Peatland Initiative (UNEP, Cisca Devereux)
- Wetlands International (WI, Thomas Westhoff)
Involving the addresses perspective: Analyzing gaps and open questions (15 mins)
Moderation: Thandeka Ndlela, Youth Engaged in Wetlands
Interview with the audience – interviewers:
- Joie Didier Sossoukpe, YEW Communications and Outreach, Benin
- Matthew Vincent Tabilog, YEW Knowledge and Capacity-Building Lead, Philippines
- Moritz Rühlke, Ramsar Youth Focal Point, Germany
- Sekai Mativenga, UNDP Zimbabwe
- Dr. Samantha Sithole, Birdlife Zimbabwe
The interviewers will ask young attendees in the audience about their perception of the presented initiatives. Questions to ask (tentative):
- What is required to ensure that the capacity that has been built among the youths is translated into action?
- Do the NGO offers for capacity development and youth involvement address the needs of youth in your experience?
- What should future capacity development offers include additionally – what are some of the youth capacity needs to be addressed?
- How can NGOs contribute to solve early career issues of young lake managers?
Wrap up, next steps and closing (5 mins)