QFFD director-general affirms continuing support for youth

Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) director-general Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari has affirmed the QFFD's continuing co-operation with local and international partners to support youth, as they are the main engine for achieving the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).In his opening speech to the second session of the Youth Track within the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), Sunday under the title *Putting youth at the forefront: Paving the way for an enabling environment for youth to thrive and prosper, al-Kuwari stressed the importance of youth and their potential for all those working in social activities who seek to build future leaders.As the world's population approaches 8bn, and while this growing population puts pressure on available resources, food security, water systems, the environment, and climate, he said that it provides a force for change and shaping the future in an interconnected world.Al-Kuwari said that nearly half of the world's population are under the age of 24, most of whom live in the least developed countries, which poses many obstacles and challenges.He noted the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which deprived nearly 1.5bn young people of schooling, along with the serious health problems accompanying it.The official added that the pandemic also deepened the unemployment crisis and financing of small projects for young people in the least developed countries, leading to more forced closures, worsening psychological and mental disorders among young people, and reducing their sense of belonging.He stated that the percentage of those unable to find an opportunity for education, employment or training may reach 23.3%, the highest since 2005.Al-Kuwari touched upon the suffering of many young people in countries torn apart by wars, climate crises, and earthquakes, prompting them to flee their homes.He estimated that 20% of the 100mn displaced people are under the age of 17, with many suffering from difficult family conditions that forced them to work at a young age or to marry before the age of 12.The QFFD director-general stressed young people's ability to build a better future using technology, innovation and science, and called for specialised educational programmes for youth, and realising relative stability in their countries to create an environment that incubates ideas and mutations.He stressed that collective action, including by policymakers and youth themselves, is the most effective guarantee against the inequality and division from which these young people suffer.Al-Kuwari called for engaging youth as partners, not beneficiaries, when formulating visions and development policies for young people in the least developed countries, and encouraging them to be voices for change and expression in their societies.