World Food Forum: International Youth Day celebrations - Zimbabwe
From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development
Hybrid Event, 22/08/2024
Green jobs in agriculture can provide meaningful livelihoods to the young, support increased food security and nutrition as well as transform our agrifood systems.
©FAO/ Banarbas Mawire
In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation by the World Conference of Ministers of Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. Over the last two decades, the annual International Youth Day celebrations have covered a wide array of themes relevant to young people, from food security and mental health to intergenerational solidarity and green skills, highlighting critical connections between youth and sustainable development. Digital transformation is one of the six key transitions with "catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs” and a significant determinant for achieving the Goals. Technologies like mobile devices, digital platforms, and emerging innovations such as artificial intelligence play a crucial role in advancing the SDGs. Data generated from every digital interaction is fundamental to digital transformation, enabling evidence-based decision-making. It is estimated that digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70% of the 169 SDG targets, bringing about a profound impact across their economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
While challenges such as digital divide persist, young people are often considered “digital natives,” being at the forefront of adopting and innovating with new technologies. They form the largest demographic of users and developers shaping digital trends globally. As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, youth remain an essential demographic group in leveraging the transformative power of technologies to address global challenges. For the observance of International Youth Day 2024, in collaboration with the KOICA-funded Green Jobs for Rural Youth Employment project (#GJ4RYE) in Zimbabwe, the FAO Digital Villages Initiative and the World Food Forum; FAO in Zimbabwe will organize a youth led hybrid event, to highlight the transformative potential of youth-driven digital solutions in advancing agrifood systems and sustainable development.
The event aims to bring together stakeholders involved in different FAO youth and digital initiatives in Zimbabwe (WFF, GJ4RYE, DiVi) to share ideas, knowledge, inspire action, and build partnerships for digitally transforming agrifood systems. The speakers and sessions are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of what these three initiatives are doing in Zimbabwe to promote youths’ involvement/ participation in the agrifood systems transformation.
Join FAO youth and digital initiatives in Zimbabwe (WFF, GJ4RYE, DiVi) in celebrating the power of youth and digital innovation on International Youth Day 2024! Discover how young minds are harnessing technology to create sustainable solutions for our communities' most pressing challenges on 22 August 2024 on Zoom or in person at FAO Offices (Only by Invitation) from 10: 00 – 16:00 hrs
OBJECTIVES OF INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2024
The theme of International Youth Day 2024, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”, highlights the key connection between digitalization and accelerating SDG progress, emphasizing the pivotal role of young people in this transformative process. Specifically, it aims to:
- Explore the instrumental role of technologies and data in accelerating efforts towards achieving SDGs, including the role of young people in advancing digital transition.
- Showcase diverse youth-led and focused digital solutions and innovations at national and community levels that contribute to agrifood systems and sustainable development.
- Provide insights on the topic.