Nevis Mega Youth Summit on SDGs solidifies Youth and Government Partnership

BASSETERRE 6 November 2023: Over 100 youth in St. Kitts and Nevis have added their voice to discussions  to help accelerate the 2030 Agenda. 

This was the focus of a recent Mega Youth Summit on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hosted by the Nevis Island Administration’s Department of Youth in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. It was held under the theme: "Youth of the Federation: What can we do to Accelerate the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda”. 

The Summit took place at the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Complex in Nevis, and provided a platform for youth to learn more about the SDGs and make concrete recommendations toward their advancement in a manner where all youth can thrive. Issues discussed included food and nutrition security, protection of green and community spaces, conservation of coastal and marine resources, usage of ICT to improve youth skills training,  revamping of school curricula and diversification of the job market for a more sustainable future for all. 

Given the success of  a previous Youth Summit held in St. Kitts in June, this forum sought to ensure that Nevisian youth were also incorporated into the discussions, to allow for a more comprehensive representation of the national youth voice in St. Kitts and Nevis. Participants in the all-day event included young civil servants and professionals, secondary school students , and members of youth-based organizations and sports clubs, including  persons with disabilities.   

Ministerial Youth Engagement a key plank of the Nevis Summit 

This Summit offered a unique Ministerial Youth Engagement component, with four youth representatives presenting key outcomes and recommendations to the Nevis Island Administration’s Cabinet of Ministers.  

Led by Premier, the Honourable Mark Brantley, the Cabinet welcomed the recommendations and apprised youth of ongoing local initiatives to address the issues tabled, in a constructive and sustainable manner. The wide-ranging engagement helped to foster a collaborative, inter-generational approach to tackling the challenges facing SDG implementation in Nevis. It concluded with a commitment to establishing a more symbiotic relationship between youth and government to equip and empower youth to play a more active role in this endeavour.  

Priority SDGs for Youth and country 

During the forum, attendees learnt more about the UN’s work in-country, specifically the ongoing initiatives to implement the SDGs in keeping with national priorities. This included an overview of UNICEF’s support for youth and children programming in country, presented by Ms. Wendy Williams, UNICEF Programme Coordinator for St. Kitts and Nevis, and an interactive session on specific SDG targets identified as being of strategic importance to the youth in Nevis, by Cosbert Woods, UN Country Coordination Officer for St. Kitts and Nevis. 

 

Central to the discussions was the feedback provided by youth on the critical issues affecting them and their counterparts in the wider federation. Innovative solutions aimed at fostering a more proactive role by the local government to support and create opportunities for youth  development were also discussed , within the context of the People, Planet, Prosperity, and Peace.  SDG 17, which promotes strong partnerships at all levels for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda, was also brought into sharp focus during a panel moderated by  Nekirah Nicholls, St. Kitts and Nevis representative on the UN Youth Advisory Group (YAG) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. 

Comprehensive Report to encapsulate Youth Voice in St. Kitts and Nevis 

The outcomes of the Nevis Mega Youth Summit will be consolidated with those from the previous Youth Forum in St. Kitts to prepare a comprehensive report to be shared with the government, other national stakeholders as well as the UN Sub-Regional Team. This will apprise stakeholders of the priorities and areas for support which have been identified by the Youth of St. Kitts and Nevis. 

The UN RCO for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has extended appreciation to all the collaborators on this event especially the NIA Department of Youth, Senator Latoya Jones, Special Advisor to the Premier, NIA Cabinet of Ministers, UN country-based agencies, and most importantly the youth participants for their invaluable contributions.