The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) announced the launch of the call for applications for the 2023 cohort of its Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF) programme on Monday 2 January. The new edition of the programme offers a refined curriculum and extensive networking opportunities for its fellows.
The Local Pathways Fellowship is one of the world's leading training and research programmes on Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities for young urban leaders. It offers the knowledge and resources needed to empower them to take local action to implement the UN 2030 Agenda in their localities. The core component of the Fellowship is a practice-oriented training programme that guides the fellows through the development of a project of their choice - from local community initiatives to political change. The programme is supported by multiple partners who contribute their thought leadership, advice and access to opportunities - the SDG Cities Guide, MIT Solve, World Urban Campaign, Milan Urban Food Policy Act, UN-Habitat, Alliance for Peacebuilding, NASA and the World Federation of United Nations Associations are among them.
The LPF includes an online course, a mentoring programme, visibility opportunities, connections with industry experts, and a strong peer network among young urban leaders from around the world. With five cohorts comprising 450 fellows from 180 different cities around the world, the programme has successfully grown into a robust network for knowledge sharing and city-level action.
Local Pathways Fellows lead not only in-depth research projects, but also change on the ground. They are showing what can be done when young urbanists from all over the world connect. Projects range from building toilets for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Nigeria to advocating for affordable menstrual hygiene spaces in India.
The 2023 cohort will be led by new entry programme leader Phil Eke-Okocha. An advocate of sustainability and peace, his background combines conflict resolution and economic development. He has been part of LPF for 3 years, first as a fellow and then as head of content and training. He led the mentoring programme with a series of initiatives that he intends to bring to the LPF. Before that, he gained experience in relation to climate conflicts, migration policy, and food security from his time on the Master's programme in Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action at the University of Siena. He is passionate about youth development and sustainable cities.
The Fellowship is open to talented and passionate professionals and students between the ages of 18 and 30 who are interested in deepening and expanding their understanding of sustainable urban development. Successful applicants must have a minimum of one year's professional or academic experience in development practice, urban planning, community engagement, advocacy, architecture, or similar disciplines. The chosen fellows must be able to commit 4-6 hours per week to the programme from March to December 2023.
Applications for the Local Paths 2023 Scholarships will be accepted from 2 January to 1 February 2023, at 23:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). The selected fellows will be notified by 26 February 2023, and the fellowship will start on 1 March 2023.
Applications and further information can be found at www.localpathways.org
About the Local Paths Exchange
The Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF) was launched in 2016 in Quito at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), with the aim of capitalising on the momentum surrounding the adoption of the New Urban Agenda.
Every year, LPF brings together a network of young thought leaders, urban planners, sustainability professionals, researchers and innovators from more than a hundred cities around the world to advance local dialogue, collaboration and problem-solving around Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) to make cities and urban settlements "smart, just and sustainable".
The programme, now in its third year, offers a practice-oriented training programme designed to enable young fellows to understand the process of "localising" SDG 11 in the cities they represent and to guide them through the development of their own projects.
The latest 2022 cohort is made up of 100 young urban innovators from more than 80 different cities around the globe.
For more information, visit www.localpathways.org
About the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth
UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth (SDSN Youth) is the official initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launched by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Founded in 2015, the network currently has around 1,000 member organisations in 85 countries, coordinated by 26 regional centres, to support the localisation and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with UN partners, universities, civil society, business and government, SDSN Youth trains and supports young leaders and organisations to tackle the most pressing problems in their communities and help shape a sustainable future. Core projects include programmes on innovation and entrepreneurship, education, sustainable cities, and sustainable campuses, all designed to respond to community challenges through practical, structured, science-based approaches.
For more information, visit www.sdsnyouth.org
