International Youth Day - Young Voices in Global Health: Nothing about us, without us

Young voices…..just saying that brings me back to the memories of my youth. That transformation from a girl into a young woman is meant to be full of change and growth, which at times was hard for me, and to be honest, those closest to me. I grew to become a strong advocate (the term back then was protester) for equal rights which set the course for my fulfilling career. Helping and standing up for others became a part of me, both personally and professionally, and it’s a part of me that I truly value. Today, there are 1.2 billion adolescents in the world and their engagement is not just a ‘tick in the box’. They are a new generation of young voices that are shaping the future of global health and wellbeing, whose full potential has not yet been fully harnessed, but the need for their thoughts, ideas and engagement is vital in leading us to the future.

?Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

Even before COVID-19, adolescents and young adults faced multiple and intersecting challenges to their wellbeing.[1] Now, COVID-19 is increasing inequities with disruptions to health, education, social protection and preventive services. However, the pandemic has also shown that young people are the first to rise to the occasion , use various tools at their disposal, and elevate their voice ?at the global, national and local levels. COVID-19 has shown us the true meaning of living in a digital era, and through their expertise and influence, young people have become the leaders of change. They have certainly helped me. I enjoy catching up to the digital era as fast as I can, and I rely on our Adolescent and Youth Constituency (AYC) at PMNCH (and in total transparency, my daughters) to keep me moving forward.??

?Meaningful Engagement and Effective Advocacy

I am extremely proud of this initiative which dates back to 2018. PMNCH, together with Family Planning 2030, (FP2030), and the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP), spearheaded The Global Consensus Statement on Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement . To date, more than 200 organizations have endorsed the Statement, which notes that power must be shared, respective contributions must be valued, and young people’s perspectives and skills must be integrated into the design and delivery of programs and policies, that affect young people’s well-being.[2] It makes perfect sense!

?Also in 2017, the Advocating for Change for Adolescents toolkit was developed, with support from PMNCH and Women Deliver. It was created by young people for young people, to lead and influence change in their communities as well as to hold governments accountable for delivering on their commitments. Through the work of our AYC, young people across Africa and Asia have become effective champions and advocates. Our partners in Cameroon , India, Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria adapted the toolkit to fit their national contexts, and built a cadre of youth champions who will inspire more young people like themselves to be part of the movement.

?In 2019, PMNCH along with the UN H6+ Technical Working Group, youth networks, and adolescent-serving organizations, developed a definition and conceptual framework for adolescent well-being, which was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health . We are working with a vibrant and diverse set of youth-led partners, to build the capacity of young people to demand change consistent with the three asks of the ?Call to Action for Adolescents Well-Being, launched by PMNCH, Child Health Initiative, UNFPA, Plan International, UNICEF, WHO, UN Major Group for Children and Youth, and UNESCO. PMNCH’s COVID-19 Call to Action , also recognizes adolescents and young people as key stakeholders in COVID-19 response and recovery.

?An Expanded Role for Adolescents and Youth at PMNCH

Now, as part of its 2021-2025 strategy , PMNCH has again increased its focus on adolescent well-being by gathering and disseminating evidence and actively campaigning with adolescents and youth-led partner organizations. To strengthen knowledge and evidence, we are curating, translating and packaging evidence to highlight gaps in progress, support consensus building and equip partners for action and greater accountability. As part of our governance reform, we have also ensured that the members of the AYC have a voice and a seat at the table in all constituencies, working groups and standing committees, with adequate remuneration for their expertise and time. Our leaders in the AYC are vibrant young people who bring in diverse new perspectives from different sectors and regions across the world. To quote our AYC Chair and Board member, David Imbago, ““Adolescents and youth, in all their diversity, should be seen as equal stakeholders in the development of national policies, and global strategies in health and well-being; after all, we are facing the short-term and will face the long-term consequences of these decisions. Our challenges and achievements go beyond 2030, sustainable development goals, and high-level conferences. We need immediate action to make the world a better place.”Our Vice Chair Maziko Matemvu recently moderated our UN High-Level Political Forum side event , Equity in the Era of COVID-19 and the SDGs: Improving Accountability for the Health and Rights of Vulnerable Women, children and Adolescents. She did an amazing job, and I smiled when she said, “I remember when I was nine years old, not knowing what I wanted to do and become, but I knew that I wanted to be part of something that is bigger than myself.”?Sound familiar??She instilled in me such confidence when she closed the event with a heartfelt rallying call to leaders saying, “We need actions, we need commitments, and we need investments…if we were able to do something in a year that is usually done in a decade, then we can achieve the SDGs by 2030.?Your actions today will help us realize our goals tomorrow.” With David, Maziko and our other AYC members, I know we are in good hands.

?The world is much different now than when I was a young protester, but unfortunately the fight for human rights is still necessary and must persist. Today, as we continue to grapple with the pandemic, we need the voices of young people in global development more than ever. As we stare optimistically into an uncertain future, all the young people reading this must know, your input is vital. Your ideas today must materialize for a better future tomorrow, one where no one has to struggle for basic health care services and where inequities in education, job opportunities and health, and the realities of violence and discrimination are problems of the past. It is only through your engagement that we will make real the promise of leaving no one behind.

?I’d like to invite passionate young people to join us (click here for the membership form and here to know more about the adolescent well-being programme) and help us diversify, expand and reach all young people who want to be a PMNCH #PartnerForChange. (That’s a part of our new branding. Sounds a little better than protester, don’t you think?)

?Please share with me below how you can bring about positive change for others in your community and for more information about International Youth Day, click here .

[1] Uniting for adolescents in covid-19 and beyond. British Medical Journal. 2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n719

[2] As per the statement, “Meaningful adolescent and youth engagement is an inclusive, intentional, mutually respectful partnership between adolescents, youth, and adults whereby power is shared, respective contributions are valued, and young people’s ideas, perspectives, skills, and strengths are integrated into the design and delivery of programs, strategies, policies, funding mechanisms, and organizations that affect their lives and their communities, countries, and world.

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