For accountability of & for the Youth, UN Sierra Leone launches Youth Advisory Group.

UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi has noted how proud he was to have a diverse group of Sierra Leonean youth representing a broad range of youth interests and priorities selected to serve as members of the United Nations Youth Advisory Group (UN YAG).

He expressed this sentiment recently during the launching of the 12-member panel after a period of onboarding, the first of its kind for the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Sierra Leone.

In his keynote address, while welcoming the Youth to the panel, Mr Ahonsi said, “The UN places high importance on the role of the Youth. In Sierra Leone, the UN has and will continue to work closely for and with the Youth.”

He also expressed his excitement on behalf of the UNCT to embark on this journey together with the UN YAG and reaffirmed the potentially crucial nature of the group’s input into joint UN programmes and projects.

The Resident Coordinator also used the occasion to remind the UN YAG members that they will also greatly benefit, as they can learn more about UN programmes in Sierra Leone and the functioning of the United Nations globally.

He concluded by expressing his confidence in the members for being selected for this group but also in the skills they have gained and the work accomplished during the onboarding, and that he looks forward to working closely with them in ensuring that Youth is a key focus and priority of the UNCT.

Mr Mohamed Orman Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs, who also attended the launch ceremony, indicated his interest in and support of the UNCT working with the UN YAG.

He also highlighted the importance of youth perspectives and ensuring they are provided with a platform for engagement.

The UN YAG onboarding and launch took place from 29 May – 1 June 2023. They will be the primary mechanism for accountability of both Sierra Leonean Youth to the UNCT and of UNCT to the Youth, as envisaged by the Youth2030 Scorecard.

Members of the UN YAG are a group of individuals nominated (either through self-nomination or through a UN Agency) and selected through a diverse team of UN representatives using defined criteria. These criteria aimed at a diverse panel taking into consideration gender and geography to ensure that they represent the Youth across Sierra Leone.

Their onboarding consisted of presentations, information sharing, dialogue, and developing the UN YAG work plan with the UN Youth Thematic Team and an external moderator. They also gained a strong foundation in their role for the next 12 months.

Priorities raised by the Youth include health, climate education, upskilling, agriculture, and gender equality. A UN YAG member expressed the shared view that “We are not working for ourselves; we are working for others and for the upcoming voices.”

The panel will also play a crucial role by providing the UNCT with new perspectives, information, ideas, critiques, and lessons learned.

Their key responsibilities include, among others, the following: support and promote the vision, mission, and values of the United Nations and the achievement of the Youth2030 Strategy, Agenda 2030, and the SDGs in Sierra Leone; participate in UN advocacy events for Agenda 2030 and the achievement of the SDGs in Sierra Leone; provide inputs to the “Youth” component, and other sections where required, of the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and participate in planning the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in Sierra Leone from the outset.

With enthusiasm for their role, the view was expressed that: "The UNYAG is about young people and their rights – we have the space, now we want to make good use of it. We are the generation that the UN is accountable to and waiting for.”

By working with and for Youth, the objective is to ensure that UN programmes can better address youth issues and concerns.

NB: Member of the UN YAG:

1) Smart Israel Kwame Hakawa 

2) Fatim Dabor

3) Doris Koroma  

4) Aiah Mark Fomba                                                            

5) Monica Yeanie Ghaliwa 

6) Adama Ibrahimatu Salamatu Konteh

7) Samesther Hannah Kargbo    

8) Jessica Brima Sesay

9) Patrick Hassien Gbessay  Samuels                                       

10) Ibrahim Joseph Kamara

11) Foday Musa                                                                            

12) Safiatu Babangidah Alieu.