Sam Ntelamo, Head of IPPFAR Sub Office to the African Union and ECA

Support Statement - 4th SDGs Youth Summit- Media Launch and stakeholders' forum - 28 October 2021

Minister, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Planning and Development Commission.

UN Resident Coordinator, Ethiopia

UN Resident Coordinator, Ghana

Director, Technology, Climate Change, and Natural Resource Management Division,

UN Association of Ethiopia

The Youth Summit Team, Youth Advocates  for Ghana

Distinguish participants, and guests

Allow me to begin by extending my warm appreciation to everyone from the Youth Advocates Ghana and all stakeholders,  who have been working on the preparation of the 4th SDGs Youth Summit., IPPFAR supports this process which ensures to engage more young people in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As you all know, the 2030 Agenda is an important political consensus document declaring UN Member States’ intent to work collectively towards achieving people-centered sustainable development. It includes many commitments about gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Both  goals on health (SDG 3) and gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment (SDG 5) include targets relating to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Equally, the Agenda 2063 is another guiding framework to African Union Member States, Civil society, and everyone else. It is an important guiding document that will help to achieve the Africa we want, and to achieve the African Development objectives through its Aspiration 6: which calls for: An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.

We implore on African countries to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the SDGs in building economies that can sustain their development aspirations. This agenda  identifies areas the need to strengthen capacity and capacity-enabling approaches for a range of stakeholders, including international partners. It offers policymakers a new approach to development — one that puts Africans in the driver's seat. If well implemented, the SGDs have the potential  to improve people's lives in ways that are consistent with the African Union vision of an Africa capable of achieving its development.

IPPF reaffirms its commitment to support the successful attainment of the goals, particularly those related SRHR and gender equality among the targets. Through our Member Associations regionally, we are now more than ever, focused on ensuring that governments make good on their commitments and implement the targets to improve the livelohoods of the citizens. In supporting our Member Associations work, we have produced a range of guides and information sheets to popularize the SDGs and how they can use them to make a change.

In conclusion, I fully support the efforts of Youth Advocates Ghana and all partners, and stakeholders as they seek external support in their quest to raise young people voices through platforms like these, which provides space for them to discuss their Health and Well-being, human rights,  sexual reproductive health rights, and education and their rights to have a good future with dignity, respect, and inclusivity without leaving NO ONE BEHIND. 

The media Launch is only a first step towards the main event of the Summit which will host African Youth to share their perspectives and to exchange their experiences, and concerns when it comes to the SDGs goals achievement with policymakers and leaders.

I wish all the best for all the team, and in the end.

I thank you.