Bellow is a summary of the United Nations Development Programmed fast fact on youth and the SDGS
“Today’s generation of adolescents and young people (between 10 and 24 years old) is close to 1.8 billion more than at any other time in history – approximately 90% of whom live in less developed countries.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a total of 169 targets, were adopted in 2015. More than one-third of SDG targets reference young people explicitly or implicitly, with a focus on empowerment, participation and/or well-being.
There are 20 youth-specific targets spread over six key SDGs: Goal 2 (hunger), Goal 4 (education), Goal 5 (gender equality), Goal 8 (decent work), Goal 8 (decent work), Goal 10 (inequality) and Goal 13 (climate change).
Young people’s involvement is also key if the call for participation, inclusion, accountability and revitalized global engagement embedded in Goals 16 (peaceful, just and inclusive societies) and 17 (partnerships and implementation) is to be achieved”.
Why the above matters?
- 1 in 5 young people has not completed their elementary education.
In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 60% of youth are out of school.
70.9 Million young people are unemployed
76.7% of young people are working in the informal sector
21.8% of the youth population are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) 76.9% of this population is female
13% rise in unemployment the last 3 years
5 million jobs are needed to keep unemployment at the current rate
According to the World Health Organization and partners report, 1.2 million adolescents to die every year, nearly all preventable
43% of the total number of homicides globally occur among youth
21% of youth make up the 243 million migrant worlds wide
More than 52% 15-29 years
20% of young people 15-29 years are willing to move from their country to another.
38% migration inclination in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean
While a great number young people are contributing to the development of their community and are involved in the economic development of their countries a greater percentage of the youth population are faced with different social and development challenges.
The 2030 agenda for the sustainable development will not be attainable if international development organizations, government agencies, national government do not actively and proactively find solutions to tackle global youth challenges.
While the momentum of achieving the goals is on it is important positive youth development is beyond conferences and forum. the real impact will be the implementation of deliberation outcomes
