apostlemark35064

From 9th to 10th April, Youth Climate Council (YCC) partnered with Youth Initiative for Climate Action (YICA) to facilitate a two-day Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Workshop and Consultation specifically for young women and girls across Sierra Leone. This consultation was an independent effort to gather insights from youth and ensure their voices are heard in the NDC review process.

The official review of Sierra Leone’s NDCs, launched by the government, is a pivotal opportunity to shape climate policies that will address the country’s climate challenges. As youth leaders, we understand the importance of including young women and girls in this process, especially considering their unique vulnerabilities to climate change. This consultation aimed to collect direct input from young women and girls, which will be presented to stakeholders in the form of policy briefs and recommendations.

Objectives of the Consultation

The consultation’s primary objective was to collect input from young women and girls, ensuring that their voices and concerns are reflected in the updated NDC. The discussions focused on:

  • Identifying key priorities and concerns related to climate change from the perspective of young women and girls.
  • Discussing the barriers preventing young women from participating in NDC processes and proposing ways to overcome them.
  • Developing actionable policy recommendations that can be presented to the NDC review stakeholders, ensuring that youth and marginalized groups are actively represented in the climate conversation.

Key Themes Discussed

Throughout the consultation, three key themes were addressed: Adaptation, Mitigation, and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).

  • Adaptation: The group identified priorities such as climate-smart agriculture, improved water management, and health resilience, particularly addressing how these strategies can be inclusive of young women and girls.
  • Mitigation: Discussions on mitigation focused on opportunities for youth in renewable energy, sustainable waste management, and green jobs, while also recognizing the barriers young women face in accessing these opportunities.
  • Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI): A critical discussion centered on the importance of gender-responsive climate policies and how to ensure young women’s active participation in decision-making processes related to climate action.

Recommendations for the Updated NDC

By the end of the consultation, participants developed a series of actionable recommendations for the updated NDC:

  • Prioritize youth-led climate actions and ensure young women and girls are given opportunities to lead in both adaptation and mitigation efforts.
  • Incorporate climate resilience strategies tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities, with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion.
  • Enhance youth access to climate finance, training, and resources, ensuring young women and girls can meaningfully contribute to national climate efforts.
  • Create platforms for youth representation in climate governance, ensuring that young women and marginalized groups are included in policy development and implementation.

Support from She Leads, Plan International, and YCC

This consultation was made possible with the support of She Leads and Plan International, both of which have been instrumental in ensuring that young women and girls have the resources and opportunities to engage in climate action. Youth Climate Council (YCC) is proud to partner in this effort to amplify the voices of young women in climate policy discussions and to contribute to an updated NDC that is inclusive, gender-responsive, and youth-led.

Next Steps: General Youth Consultation Across Sierra Leone

Building on the success of this consultation, the next step will be leading a general youth consultation across Sierra Leone. This will allow us to gather input from a wider range of young people, ensuring that the perspectives of all youth, especially those from rural and marginalized communities, are included in the NDC review process.

YCC remains committed to advocating for youth-led climate action and ensuring that gender equality and social inclusion are at the core of national climate policies. We will continue to support youth engagement in climate action, ensuring that their voices are central to shaping the future of climate policy in Sierra Leone.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our work in advocating for an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Sierra Leone. Together, we will ensure that the climate future of Sierra Leone is shaped by the voices of its youth.