Power Shift in Action: Youth Leadership and the Future of Global Decision-Making
by Esenam Amuzu
[Below is a transcript of an interview between Esenam Amuzu, FPNN Community Reporter and Richard Dzikunu, Yield Hub.]
Esenam: Hello, we are here in New York City reporting for the Family Planning News Network. I have had the opportunity to chat with an amazing young expert who has been working strongly on the sides of the Summit of the Future. He is attending the main Summit and will be engaging with leaders and other delegates.
As we move forward and implement the outcome from the Summit of the Future, who really holds the power to move forward? We've been discussing power-shifting and Richard joins us to share his thoughts on the issue.
Richard: My name is Richard Dzikunu and I work with the Yield Hub.
At the Yield Hub, we focus on improving youth participation and partnership in the field of adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights. I think when we think about the Summit of the Future, which is currently taking place here in New York, we also think about power-shifting and who holds that power.
And I think young people really have a meaningful role to play when we think about the future. Young people who are even actively participating in decision-making processes from around the world are here during this very busy week. And it's important we understand that power shifting does not mean we are yielding some authority or giving up decision-making to young people. It basically means that we should include those who will be impacted by this future in those decisions.
Some 15 years ago, I had a chance to be at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session for Children. Today, it's been 17 years since. If those back then, when I attended that session, did not plan for a future where I can exist in, 17 years down the line, I would not be here. So it's important that we also think of the future and plan for the future. I have had a chance through Curious Minds, through different youth-led organizations, to be part of decision-making processes that have supported youth policy development.
As we think about the Summit for the Future, we should begin to think of how we build mechanisms structured so that youth can be engaged in all decision-making processes about the path for the future and how this can also benefit them. It's not about yielding power or some power struggle or whether young people should be in the room or not. It's about making sure we are making the best decisions. And we make best decisions where we include those who will be impacted by those decisions.
Esenam: Before you go, many believe that the Pact of the Future (PAC) document has largely influenced and is youth-led. What is your thoughts on that statement and how do young people position themselves strategically and meaningfully engaged in implementing the PAC?
Richard: I think we have seen progress because I have seen a number of consultations, especially at the country level, at the regional level, especially also within the African continent, taking place about the PAC for the Future, where youth groups, youth-led organizations have been involved in decision-making processes. I would say there has been, to some extent, a level of influence. And we didn't see this before where there were a lot of spaces for youth to be part of such a decision-making process. So that is already a step in the right direction.
Now, as to whether some of the influence or some of the decisions that the young people contributed would make up end up being accepted, that is also different. And also, as to whether some of these decisions that young people contributed would end up having budget support from some of the big INGOs, from the UN agencies. It's also another question that has to be answered.
But so far, there's been good progress. We have been given the voice. We already have the voice. But now we have to continue to actively advocate to see how that voice will move into implementation, will move into more budget support, and see more youth active involvement in the path for the future. For a continent that holds the largest population of today's young youth cohort.