Youth participation in the XIII GFMD
Register to take part in the 3rd edition of the Migration Youth Forum and the 1st edition of the Migration Leadership and Innovation Award in January 2021!
The annual summit of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is a state-led, informal and non-binding process that helps shape the global debate on migration and development. Since 2007, the GFMD has gradually evolved from a government-only process to a multi-stakeholder mechanism that brings together national governments, civil society, the private sector, cities, local/regional governments. Recently, the GFMD has opened its doors to youth representatives - first through the GFMD Civil Society Mechanism a few years ago, and then in 2019 in a structured way across all mechanisms and spaces.
The engagement and participation of young people in the governance of global migration is extremely important, especially in these challenging times in which we now live.
As the largest generation of young people in history, 1.9 billion, and representing ~32% of international migrants (under the age of 30), we need to be taken into account. The youth perspective is needed more than ever, especially in the GFMD process when discussing the future of human mobility, as many of them have been at the forefront of this crisis - implementing solutions to empower and support young people on the move.
Through the Core Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY), young people have been actively engaged in the GFMD since 2018, where the first Migration Youth Forum was organised in partnership with IOM and unicef, and held in conjunction with the Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Migration, where the Youth Forum served as a space to promote policies that reflect the priorities and needs of young people. Young people also formally participated in the GFMD through the civil society mechanism and addressed the Marrakesh Summit. The second Youth Forum was held in conjunction with the most important migration-related event of 2019-2020 - the GFMD Summit in Quito. The space served to promote peer-to-peer learning as well as prepare action plans for the coming year.
This year, young people will sit at the same table as governments, mayors, business leaders and civil society actors to discuss common migration policy priorities and actions at the GFMD. That's why UN MGCY is organising in partnership with UNICEF and IOM:
THE MIGRANT YOUTH FORUM
Who will be at the Youth Forum? 70 young people, including young migrants and refugees, representatives of civil society organisations led by or working for young people, researchers, entrepreneurs, professionals, volunteers, activists, leaders... All under the age of 31 and strongly committed to working with and for migrants in their communities. We seek balanced representation and an inclusive and diverse Forum when it comes to gender, age, socio-economic background, culture, religion, ethnicity and geography. The Youth Forum will be a peer-to-peer space to learn about the importance of the GFMD and how to contribute to it effectively, as well as providing a solid support network during the Summit days. The Migration Youth Forum will be held prior to the 13th Summit of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).
**If the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic allows, it will be held in person in January 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. If not, the Youth Forum will be held virtually.
THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AWARD FOR MIGRATION
In conjunction with the Migration Youth Forum, this year we are launching a new space for young people to present their existing solutions to issues around migration and development: The Youth Leadership and Innovation Award for Migration.
The Award will showcase existing initiatives with the aim of empowering and improving the living conditions of young people on the move, led by young people from the 13th GFMD, and receive support in their ongoing journey with a two-month mentoring programme, seed funding for their initiative (TBC) and the chance to attend the Youth Forum and be part of the GFMD process. Young entrepreneurs, leaders and startups and youth-led organisations are invited to apply.
Note: there is only one application form, on which you will be asked to indicate whether your main interest is the Youth Forum or the Innovation Award. If you apply for the Award, your application will automatically be considered for the Youth Forum as well.
Interested? Join us and shape the future of global migration!
Are you eligible for the Migrant Youth Forum?
Are you under 31?
Are you passionate about migration and development issues?
Do you have a track record of relevant leadership, research and/or community impact in this field?
Are you eligible for the Youth Leadership and Innovation Award for Migration? (in addition to the eligibility criteria mentioned above)
Are you leading/part of a youth-led organisation or social innovation initiative, making a change for young migrants in your community?
Does this initiative have the potential for scaling/replication?
Join us and get involved in shaping the future of migration.
The deadline for applications is 30 September 2020.
More information below:
