The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) and Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MoGLSD) have long shared a commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This partnership aims to nurture and groom youth leaders across universities nation wide, equipping them with effective leadership competencies to address the rapidly changing economic, political, and social landscape of the country.
Josephine Aanyu, Guild speaker from Uganda Christian University, is one of the beneficiaries of this partnership. She is maximizing her potential to effectively influence development policies and challenge the traditional narratives on women in leadership.Amplifying women voices and promoting their participation and leadership in public institutions, parliaments, the judiciary, and private sector is crucial for Uganda. We need more women leaders like Josephine. Leaders who are change agents in environment conservation, climate action, climate-smart agriculture, innovative solutions, digitally sound and anchors for inclusive growth in their societies.
Uganda’s youth have a central role to play in the driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a global population of over 1.8 billion youth, and over 80 percent residing in developing nations, there is a need to harness their potential. Platforms like the youth conneckt, facilitate connections, while initiatives such as the Youth4Business Innovation and Partnership Facility by UNDP and Stanbic Bank, and the Kabale and Makerere University hubs by Timbuktoo, provide spaces for innovation, support start-ups and creative industries, and opportunities for youth leadership. Youth need to be involved more in the country’s national development plan processes and strategically position them to contribute to the 5 principles of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships. Uganda hosts 1.5 million refugees, the largest refugee hosting country in Africa, we need more youth leaders to champion conflict resolution, appreciate peace and play an active role in civic engagement.