IN-DEPTH
UNDP Kenya Country Office has established a multi-stakeholder all-inclusive UN Youth Sounding Board with the intention of engaging directly with a small but highly representative and diverse panel of young women and men leaders, influential youth voices and representatives of institutions key to the implementation of youth development agenda in Kenya. From the onset, it is critical to note that the implementation of a Youth Sounding Board does not contradict legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms within the United Nations System for youth engagement. Even though it arises out of a programmatic platform and championed by UNDP, the UN Youth sounding board is a product of consultations between UNDP and Ministry of ICT and Youth Affairs and modelled around similar initiatives by the United Nations System elsewhere.

Globally, the United Nations youth agenda is guided by the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY), adopted by the General Assembly in 1995, which provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young people around the world. The programme covers fifteen youth priority areas and contains proposals for action in each of these areas which include full and effective participation of young people (including girls and young women) in the life of society and in decision-making. Implementation of the Programme of Action requires the full enjoyment by young people of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and also requires that Governments take effective action against violations of these rights and freedom and promote non-discrimination, tolerance, respect for diversity, religious and ethical values, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions of their young people, equality of opportunity, solidarity, security and participation of all young women and men including youths with disabilities.

Achieving these global goals requires coordination and nurturing. While there is need to ensure that these young leaders come from different sectors i.e. education, governance, health, environment, media, civil society, technology, as well as geographic representation, and that there is 50/50 gender representation; mature members to this board shall be drawn from youth-focused institutions to support the guidance and thought-leadership necessary to spur progress.