It is an honor to be a part of the journey of the 2024 African United Nations Youth Delegates. Their passion and focus on Youth Peace and Security (YPS), meaningful youth engagement, and youth employment mandates have been inspiring, particularly in the following areas: 1. The strategic development and support of youth-based frameworks across the UN system and the African Union (AU) to help actualize the Secretary-General's report on meaningful youth engagement. 2. The development of youth-focused frameworks on the existing reforms towards the Security Council, with an emphasis on establishing youth councils at the regional level. 3. The establishment of local value chains that are African-based and the exploration of new modalities of funding for sustainable development that are subject to youth scrutiny. These initiatives demonstrate the readiness of the youth to engage in discussions, build context, adopt intergenerational approaches, and work towards a better Africa.
The United Nations Association of Tanzania creates platforms that empowers youth as catalysts for national and global transformation. Through the African United Nations Youth Delegates Program, this year young leaders from Tanzania and across Africa were prepared to represent the youth of their countries at the UN General Assembly, ensuring their voices were heard on issues such as youth engagement, employment, and peace. Their participation symbolized hopes and solutions of African youth. This milestone reflects UNA Tanzania’s dedication to providing life-changing opportunities and building a sustainable future. By providing youth with such platforms, we have witnessed their potential to lead and shape global conversations. This achievement is a testament to what can be accomplished through collective efforts in supporting the next generation of change-makers.