African Youth Adaptation Forum

The African Youth Adaptation Forum was aimed at ensuring youth voices from the region are present, heard and considered in the adaptation agenda, including in the review of the Global Goal on Adaptation.

Event description:

The African Youth Adaptation Forum took place on 22 March 2022, on World Water Day at the World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal. It was hosted at the Exchange and Dialogue Arena from 13:00 to 14:30 GMT and livestreamed through the International Secretariat for Water.
 
The African Youth Adaptation Forum brought together young people, youth organizations, policy makers and global experts, with the overall objective of elevating youth voices and increasing the power of influence of young people worldwide in the adaptation agenda.

The African Youth Adaptation Forum aimed to:

• Identify youth priorities and recommendations regarding the achievement and implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation
• Elevate youth voices across the globe through GCA’s platform allowing young people, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable communities, to shape the international adaptation agenda
• Showcase youth-led climate-resilient solutions to accelerate adaptation action

PROGRAM

Opening:
Welcoming remarks by the hosts of the Forum

• Mr. Desmond Alugnoa, GCA Youth Advisory Panel
• Ms. Elysa Vaillancourt, International Secretariat for Water, GCA Youth Advisory Panel

Welcoming remarks through video message

• Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO, Global Center on Adaptation

Interconnection between Adaptation, Water and Youth Participation

• H.E. Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Kingdom of The Netherlands

Intergenerational Dialogue on the Role of Youth in the review and implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation
Video message

• Mr. Youssef Nassef, Director Adaptation UNFCCC

Panelists

• H.E. Janet Rogan, Ambassador for Africa and the Middle East, the United Kingdom
• Prof. Anthony Okon Nyong, Senior Regional Director, Africa
• Mr. Desmond Alugnoa, GCA Youth Advisory Panel, Ghana
• Ms. Yosr Khedr, International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Egypt

Showcasing Youth-Led Adaptation Solutions
Video message

• Mr. Eric Bosire, Irri Hub Ke, YouthADAPT Solutions Challenge Winner 2021, Kenya

Panelists

• Ms. Boluwatito Awe, Nigerian Youth Parliament for Water, Nigeria
• Mr. Daniel Koto Dagnon, young leader, Benin
• Ms. Sara Ladouy, Water & Adaptation Youth Entrepreneur, Morocco
• Ms. Fatou M’bow, Actor & Model, advocate on water problematics, Senegal

Designing a climate-resilient world post 2030
Interactive exercise using the following guiding questions:

• What does a climate-resilient Africa post 2030 look like?
• What are five actions that can enable transformational change in Africa?
• What are youth’s priorities for the Global Goal on Adaptation?

Closing remarks

• Mr. Amr Essam, incoming COP 27 Presidency, Egypt
• Ms. Elysa Vaillancourt, International Secretariat for Water, GCA Youth Advisory Panel
• Mr. Desmond Alugnoa, GCA Youth Advisory Panel

Next Regional Youth Adaptation Forums:
The next Forum is the Pacific Youth Adaptation Forum, and will take place on Earth Day, 22nd April 2022. See a full overview of the Youth Forums.
 
For more information about the GCA’s Youth Forums and Youth Leadership programme, contact GCA’s Youth Leadership Programme Lead, Adriana Valenzuela, at youth@gca.org