Youth Corner
Publié sur avril 5, 2024

Youth Speak: Digital Connectivity as a Driving Force for Sustainable Development 


Persistent digital divides among and within countries stand in the way of widespread SDG progress, at a time of exponential pace of digital transformation. Managing digital risks and digital harms and leveraging the potential of technologies requires investing in inclusive and accessible digital infrastructure to ensure meaningful connectivity for all. The lack of financial resources constitutes a tremendous barrier to countries in the developing world to invest in digitalisation efforts, hindering their ability to build relevant capacity, services and infrastructures1

“Great societies are built and sustained when young people have access to quality education and decent work opportunities,” says Chukwuemeka Orukwowu, a youth champion from Nigeria, recognising the interconnectivity of jobs and social protection, education, and digitalization. “Digital connectivity is the powerhouse of commercial activities, because e-learning, e-commerce, and even communications through social media is powered when we have improved digital connectivity.”

The UN Joint SDG Fund recognises the potential for UN joint action in enhancing digital cooperation and catalysing digital transformations, especially in regions that have been left behind to address the digital divide. 

“Access to energy in today's world is not just about being tuned into the economy, but it's about having access to information and about having a voice. This is especially true as countries increasingly digitise their public infrastructure and bureaucracies,” states Mikkel Kristmoen, a youth champion from Norway. “Consequently, having novel approaches to ensure that rural and underserved areas and communities can have access to energy has to be a priority to safeguard the wealth of cultures and perspectives that the world has.”

Going forward, the UN Joint SDG Fund will support the promotion of integrated joint programmes and financing for digital transformations for the SDGs that drive systems change and leverage broader funding for key areas such as government services, digital connectivity, digital financing, e-trade, and digital for the planet. It will also support cross-cutting initiatives to advance digital public goods, digital human rights and digital capacity building to create a safer and more equitable world, while unlocking the full potential of digital technologies for the SDGs.

We extend our thanks to Doha Debates for their support in bringing together the voices of young changemakers around the world to advocate for the Global Goals.

 

Join the movement using the hashtag #YouthSpeak at @JointSDGFund

 

About United Nations’ Youth2030 vision

A world in which the human rights of every young person are realised; that ensures every young person is empowered to achieve their full potential; and that recognises young people’s agency, resilience and their positive contributions as agents of change. 

 

About United Nations Joint SDG Fund’s Youth Corner

The UN Joint SDG Fund’s Youth Corner is a youth platform where young people’s needs can be addressed, their voices amplified, and their engagement advanced as part of its Youth2030 mission.

 

About Doha Debates

Doha Debates engages a vanguard of intellectually curious truth-seekers to constructively debate differences in order to build a better future.

 

For further information about the incredible youth featured, you can connect with them via the links below:

Mikkel Kristmoen (Student at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences): LinkedIn

Chukwuemeka Orukwowu (Digital Innovator): Website, X/TwitterLinkedIn

 

Note:

The Joint SDG Fund's joint programmes are under the prestige leadership of the Resident Coordinator Office and implementing United Nations Agencies. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030. 


(1) United Nations General Assembly, “Road Map for Digital Cooperation: Implementation of the Recommendations of the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation. Report of the Secretary-General, A/74/821,” May 29, 2020.