Side event details

Empowering Youth: Capacity Development and Youth Engagement in Wetland Conservation and Sustainable Development
Room
Gwayi
Day and time
30.07.2025 18:30
Lead organization
Global Nature Fund, German Government and UNDP Zimbabwe
Partner organization(s)
Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW), Wetlands International (WI), Global Peatlands Initiative (hosted by UNEP), Institute for Water Education IHE Delft, World Water Network WWN (hosted by Waterfowl and Wetlands Trust WWT), World Water Quality Alliance (hosted
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 focus 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. The pitches will cover specific target groups, concrete learning experiences, 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 approaches. Comments and insights will be collected and compiled into a draft roadmap 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.
  • Vision 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 roadmap for youth activities in wetland conservation.
Program

Moderation: Thandeka Ndlela, Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW) & Marie-Laure Mpeck Nyemeck, Global Environment Facility (GEF) 

 

1. Welcome and House Rules 

 

2. Opening Remarks 

  • Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany
  • Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Zimbabwe

 

3. Introduction to the Session 

  • Thandeka Ndlela, Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW)

 

4. Pitching Youth Capacity Development Activities 

 

5. Learnings from the Practice of Youth Engagement through UNDP/GEF

  • Yi Liu, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grant Programme
  • Pascal Manyakaidze, Local Initiative Development Agency (LID)
  • Kalulu Mumpande, Safe Environment & Wildlife Africa (SEWA)
  • Ronald Chirimuuta, BirdLife/Conservation Society of Monavale

 

6. Youth Perspective and Audience Interview: Analyzing gaps and open questions 

  • Matthew Vincent Tabilog, Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW) 
  • Moritz Rühlke, Ramsar Youth Focal Point - Germany
  • Constance Pepukai, UNDP Zimbabwe

 

7. Wrap-up, Next Steps & Closing