KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Youth delegates in the third annual Ready Set Great Youth in Development Conference of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi-Country Office here are expected to discuss issues and solutions related to youth poverty and finalize a Call to Action when the conference gets underway on October 17.
The one-day conference, which was set for that date in commemoration of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, will also feature sessions tailored to help youth with a heart for social causes, activism, and social enterprises to navigate the unique challenges faced by youth in this field and strengthen their capacity to serve,” a statement from the UNDP office said, adding that delegates “unable to attend in person will be facilitated via a dynamic online platform.”
The statement said the “conference would end with UNDP’s third annual Development Challenge, a pitch competition for university students with innovative solutions to advance Jamaica’s national development priorities aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Competitors will have five minutes to convince delegates and the judges that their pitch is number one,” and delegates will get an opportunity to “vote for their favorite with their cumulative votes counting as part of the final decision.”
Winners will receive paid internships at UNDP Multi-Country Office in Jamaica.
The Steering Committee leading the implementation of Ready Set Great includes representatives of UNDP, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Vision 2030 Secretariat, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Research (SALISES), Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Youths For Excellence Limited, Youths Inspiring Positive Change Jamaica, Young Women and Men of Purpose, Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students, and the Caribbean Youth Climate Justice Coalition.
“The youth demographic is one of several groups targeted for services under UNDP MCO’s Country Programme 2022 – 2026, having been identified as requiring urgent support to strengthen their social resilience and inclusion,” the statement said.
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