REPORT: 2024 U.N. SUMMIT OF THE FUTURE
INTERNATIONAL CITIES OF PEACE PARTICIPATION
The Mexican Delegation from Guerrero State Cities of Peace participated in the Summit of the Future. (Shown Gisela Valenzo Rodriguez and Wendy Carbajal Sotelo of Guuerrero State Cities of Peace.)
#YouthLead:
Innovative Solutions In Humanitarian Action
Workshop Overview:
The session will amplify youth-led innovative solutions for emergencies and prolonged crises and aims to address the root causes of humanitarian situations and forced displacement, and support inclusion in national systems. By fostering dialogue and strengthening partnerships among youth-led organizations, young leaders, policymakers, and humanitarian actors, the session seeks to mobilize commitments to increase investment and resources for youth-led initiatives and integrate their participation in decision-making processes.
Highlights:
With over 50% of refugees being under the age of 24, their displacement results in a lack of access to education caused by disruption, lack of access, social exclusion, and disabilities, Only 7% of refugees reach higher education although the goal is to bring that up to 15% by 2030. One crucial factor is providing psychosocial support to those suffering from trauma as mental health is a prerequisite for education and self-reliance. We must recognize that learning leads to earning—which has the power to break the cycle of poverty and greatly reduce many factors that contribute to violence.
As known by many of those involved in ICP, small, volunteer-based grassroots organizations frequently face burnout, are limited to working on a project-to-project basis and are unable to work on long-term strategic planning.
When it comes to accessing funding, “you have to follow the money, be at the table and know how to manage it.” There is so much need across the world that, from a donor’s perspective, it is imperative for all funds received to go the last mile. Accountability is tremendously important. Multiple panelists kept emphasizing this-
“The best way to get the money is to use it the best way!”
“Money best served is money best serving the people.”
When seeking funds, cultural and language barriers, as well as bureaucracy can seem impossible to overcome. It was strongly recommended to start trying to raise small funds, demonstrate fiscal responsibility and then go for larger amounts.
Mentorship and training for capacity building is critical. In addition to financial support, larger organizations can offer training and resource sharing that focuses on operation management, staff development, strategic planning, and education on fiscal accountability.
From a larger organization’s standpoint, grassroots organizations can offer on-the-ground knowledge for policy development and those organizations may leverage that to open doors to funding and in-kind support.
The framework of ICP is to recognize the leadership capacity of those who know first-hand what the problems are in their communities and possess the local level expertise to solve them. Throughout the summit, it was clear that there is a demand and a growing effort to connect with those leaders, elevate their narratives, connect with their movements, and share their best practices. It is clear that ICP’s vision to create an infrastructure to identify and elevate our grassroots liaisons is a truly impactful way to cultivate a culture of peace and their voices want to be heard.
Resources
Vodaphone Foundation
https://www.vodafone.com/vodafone-foundation/about-vodafone-foundation
Through a strategy of Connecting for Good, Vodafone Foundation (UK registered charity 1193984) combines Vodafone’s charitable giving and technology to create long-term, sustainable programs that help to address the world’s most pressing problems.
Their work is centered around four core pillars of activity; Connected Learning, Connected Health, Connected Living, and a portfolio of apps.
Instant Schools for Africa
https://www.vodafone.com/news/vodafone-foundation-news/free-education#
Vodafone Foundation expanded its benefits in Sub-Saharan Africa to more than five million children who are marginalised and excluded from traditional education. Vodafone’s charitable arm is launching Instant Schools For Africa across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania to provide free access to quality online educational materials. Children, young people and educators will benefit from free and unlimited access to the Instant Schools for Africa online learning materials with zero mobile data charges in order to encourage widespread access to, and use of, the curricula on offer. The content will also be made available offline to support pupils and educators without access to the internet. A similar Vodafone Foundation initiative in South Africa – Vodacom e-School – is already benefiting 215,000 children. Developed in conjunction with Learning Equality*, the not-for-profit provider of open-source educational technology solutions, the Instant Schools For Africa platform will offer global and local educational resources and include subjects such as math and science, providing millions of children and young people with access to education materials – from primary through to advanced high school level.
Qatar Fund for Development
https://www.qatarfund.org.qa/about-us/#story
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) is the State of Qatar’s international development provider dedicated to promoting human development, poverty alleviation, strengthening health services and educational systems, supporting economic development, mobilizing humanitarian aid, and enhancing communities’ resilience towards climate change.
Whitaker Peace and Education Foundation
The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) was founded in 2012 by artist, social activist, SDGs Advocate, and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation Forest Whitaker. It aims to promote the values of peace, reconciliation, and social development within communities impacted by conflict and violence. WPDI’s countries in action include France, Mexico, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, and United States.
Tent
Tent operates in 12 countries across the Americas and Europe. They have dedicated staff that provides locally-tailored guidance to help companies hire refugees, by expanding their talent pipeline, integrating refugees in the workplace, and addressing common barriers.
Multi-Stakeholder Pledges for the Global Refugee Forum 2023
https://globalcompactrefugees.org/pledges-contributions/multistakeholder-pledges-global-refugee-forum-2023
Overview of commitments to providing wide range of aid to displaced persons with program details and donor listings.
Multi-Stakeholder Pledges for the Global Refugee Forum 2023
https://globalcompactrefugees.org/pledges-contributions/multistakeholder-pledges-global-refugee-forum-2023
Overview of commitments to providing wide range of aid to displaced persons with program details and donor listings
Youth Peace and Security Agenda
https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/policy-issues-and-partnerships/policy/youth
Following several years of advocacy by over 11,000 young people from over 110 countries, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a historic resolution, UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, The Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (2015), recognizing young peoples’ positive role in international peace and security. This landmark resolution identifies five key pillars for action: participation, protection, prevention, partnerships, and disengagement and reintegration. It urges Member States to give young people a greater voice in decision-making at the local, national, regional and international levels and to consider setting up mechanisms that would enable young people to participate meaningfully in peace processes. Here you will find subsequent Reports from the Secretary General, videos from related conferences, and other resources.
Tertiary Refugee Student Network
https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/5fa53df84.pdf
The Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN) is recognized by students, UNHCR, and other partners for its importance as an advocacy platform and to continually highlight the importance of educational opportunities for refugees. Working with refugee students, TRSN is engaged in amplifying the benefits of education in their communities.
Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action
https://agendaforhumanity.org/initiatives/3829.html#:~:text=The%20Compact%20for%20Young%20People,addressed%2C%20and%20that%20they%20are
The Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action is an unprecedented and collective commitment of key actors to ensure that the priorities, needs and rights of young women and young men, girls and boys affected by disaster, conflict, forced displacement and other humanitarian crises, are addressed, and that they are informed, consulted, and meaningfully engaged throughout all stages of humanitarian action. The signatories to the compact commit to not only specifically fund, research and address youth’s needs in crisis settings, but also, to ensure they are part of designing and leading those responses.
More than 40 humanitarian partners including governments, UN System entities, private sector organizations, INGOs, and major youth organizations and networks have endorsed this innovative compact.
Global Compact on Refugees
https://globalcompactrefugees.org
This platform brings together a growing community of Member States, refugees, NGOs, UN organizations, businesses, faith groups, academics, charities and community groups, all of whom are working together to find practical, long-term solutions that will allow refugees, internally displaced people, stateless people, and their generous host communities, to thrive. This is a community platform for all actors who are creating, supporting, or running projects which aim to give refugees and their host communities more support, find long-term solutions, and offer opportunities for refugees to grow and lead economically independent lives. Here, you are encouraged to learn about the Compact, share your Good Practices, publicize concrete commitments as well as learn how the Compact is turned into action.
Global Refugees Youth Network
https://www.gryn.network
GRYN supports young refugees to develop their capacity to help each other, lead initiatives to respond to their communities needs and advocate for the changes they feel are important for them and their communities
Of particular interest for our ICPs may be the Network section of the website:
https://www.gryn.network/network-2/
