Call for EOIs: Strengthening Africa Youth Voices on Human Mobility

Deadline: 9-Jul-23

IOM is seeking for young persons (18-35 years) from the African continent familiar with human mobility in the context of climate change as well as experience in climate action.

Young people who are or are committed to raising the voices and the interests of climate migrants and disaster displaced persons, are invited to participate in the two-day workshop on 16–17 August 2023, Nairobi, Kenya. Moreover, the selected participants will contribute to increasing the visibility of the human mobility and climate change nexus, as they approach ACS, ACW, and the COY18 and the COP28.

Objectives

A youth engagement forum will be facilitated in Nairobi, to improve knowledge and understanding of migration, environment and climate change nexus; to plan, agree upon and coordinate the development and implementation of the Kampala Declaration beyond the East and Horn of Africa region, and bring together Youth from the African continent. This forum will be an opportunity for the Youth from various regions, with either contrasting or similar realities to exchange and share their respective experiences and best practices.

Furthermore, the purpose of this youth engagement forum is to establish key messages that can contribute to the Global Youth Statement ahead of ACS, ACW, COY18 and COP28.

Improve knowledge and understanding of, and engagement in climate change induced migration, including risks such as human trafficking.

Improve collaboration and cohesion among youth in the African continent.

Increase visibility of the migration and climate change nexus in preparation for sub-regional youth engagements, ACS, ACW, COY18 and COP28 on different social media platforms, including through young advocates.

Elaborate on expansion of the Kampala Declaration, as well as provide key messages on human mobility in the context of a changing climate in the African continent.

Africa Climate Action Summit and Africa Climate week in Nairobi

An Africa Climate Action Summit (ACS) will be organized in Nairobi, Kenya on 4 to 6 September. The summit of African Heads of State and Government on climate will be co-hosted by Kenya and the African Union.

The Africa Climate Week (ACW 2023) is one of four Regional Climate Weeks held this year by UNFCCC to build momentum ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 28 in Dubai and the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake, designed to chart the way for fulfilling the Paris Agreement’s key goals.

Hosted by the government of Kenya, ACW 2023 will be organised in parallel with the African Climate Action Summit

Outcomes

Stocktaking document of successful contributions of youth to address challenges and opportunities of human mobility in the context of a changing climate that could be replicated across the regions.

Youth Key Messages on human mobility in the context of climate change to feed in the expansion of the Kampala Declaration, as well as ACS, ACW, and the COY18 and COP28.

Strengthen Africa-wide youth networks for continued advocacy on climate change and human mobility nexus.

Structure, format and participation

Workshop

The partners will organize a two-day in-person workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

Sessions will be facilitated jointly by the organizers and the participants.

Consent

Participation in the workshop is voluntary.

Photographs will be taken, and sessions might be recorded.

By participating, the participants accept that photos will be taken, and the workshop will be recorded. Photos will be utilized in public information materials.

Social media will be utilized during the workshop.

Language

The workshop will be run in English for all sessions with interpretations to French and Arabic.

Participation

1–2 Youth representatives of most countries in the African continent as well as Middle East, particularly United Arab Emirates as the host of the COP28.

Youth will be selected through a Call for Expression of Interest.

Particularly youth (age 18-35) will be selected based on their familiarity with human mobility in the context of climate change, as well as experience in climate action.

Participation is also encouraged from migrants and refugees, and persons affected by climate change.

The invitations will be shared via email.

COVID-19 measures

The measures for the COVID-19 pandemic will be observed and followed in the preparation and implementation of the workshop.

Criteria

This Expression of Interest does not guarantee that applicants will be selected for this event. Applicants will be selected based on their knowledge, experience and proven engagements previously undertaken on engaging with the topic of human mobility in the context of climate change and environmental degradation.

Selected participants are to arrive in Nairobi on 15 August and depart on 18 August 2023.

Participants need have the relevant travelling documents (such as passport valid for at least 6 months), as well as relevant documents (such as visa as needed, yellow fever and COVID-19 vaccination certificates).

IOM will cater for the costs (air travel, accommodation, meals) of successful candidates only. Participants will need to be able to cover their visa costs, transportation to the airport in the location of departure as well as in Nairobi in advance. These costs will be compensated later against receipts.

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