This presentation is part of the 5th African Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Conference in Uganda, 14-16 October 2015

1. The 5th African regional centre of expertise (RCE) CONFERENCE
Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel and Convention Centre, Entebbe, Uganda
14 - 16 October 2015
Conference Theme: “Building A Stronger RCE Network for Transforming Lives
and Communities through ESD”
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND MOBILIZATION FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A CASE OF NESDACC
Mkuzi, Hamisi Tsama
RCE-GREATER PWANI/ NESDACC NETWORK

2. ABSTARCT
Currently over 60 percent of the population in many countries in the globe is constituted by
the youth aged between 15 and 24. This is a vibrant and active demographic layer that can be
used to spur sustainable development in many socio-economic and environmental fronts. The
Global Action Programme (GAP) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have
recognized youths as a driver in sustainable development. The youth engagement
opportunities and peer influence are remarkable which need to be exploited for sustainability.
However, the challenges facing the youth are bizarre, and range from unconsolidated
knowledge base and innovative ideas in the socio-economic and environmental perspective to
real multiple forms of inequalities and exclusion in important decision making processes,
thus denying them the opportunity to showcase and exploit their prowess and capabilities.
The challenges stagnate the rapid realization of sustainable development. The youth make
invaluable contributions to society and need to be empowered through useful engagements. It
is on this basis that RCE-Greater Pwani network has provided innovative solutions of
engaging the youth in a sustainable way through a youth initiative known as NESDACC.
RCE-Greater Pwani and NESDACC have increased engagements with youths and other
stakeholders. NESDACC focuses on investing in youth through various empowerment
projects for their own and societal benefits. It utilizes mobilization approach that supports
youths to make individual decisions, take action and advocate for youth participation in
decision making processes. This approach has empowered youths to be responsible and
active players in sustainable development initiatives. The youth have been engaged in
participatory activities that have shown best practices in biodiversity conservation,
environmental management and environmental accountability. However, the youth need
varied knowledge and competences through practical engagements and experiences to
effectively and productively participate in enhancing adaptability and resilience to the global
challenges such as climate change, biodiversity degradation and waste management as well
as the development of conducive policy frameworks.
Key Words: Youth, Empowerment, Sustainable development, Regional Centre of Expertise

3. INTRODUCTION
Background information
Today, the world is changing with unparalleled speed with all sorts of lifestyles coming to
place. This has affected the lives of the world’s billion youth, with the largest percentage
being from developing countries. In many parts of the world, both developing and developed
countries youth are drivers of change with a powerful voice in the public scene. The future is
potentially at risk, if behavior change is not addressed promptly. In Africa, 70 percent of the
urban populations are young people under the age of 30, more than elsewhere; sustainable
development can only be achieved by having an informed, strong and organized youth. This
call for the youth to embrace sustainable behaviors, a behavior change which ensures the
activities of the present will not compromise the ability of future generations to attain
responsible behavior. Several initiatives and networks have been developed to ensure
productive engagement of the youth for sustainability. One such network is the RCE-Greater
Pwani, a regional network on Education for Sustainable Development. The network
comprises of experts from different organization in the Coastal region of Kenya who
synergize to spur sustainable development in the region.
RCE-Greater Pwani works to promote sustainable development in Kenya's coastal
communities through capacity-building, partnerships, networking, education and training.
The greater coastal region of Kenya is endowed with rich and productive biodiversity,
cultural heritage and diversified physical environment that can sustainably be harnessed for
poverty reduction and alleviation and enhanced food security which are the key challenges
facing the region. The RCE-Greater Pwani network works with Youth and women, educators,
the media as well as researchers to promote sustainable development in the Coast region. It
has formed and engaged other networks in its diversified sustainable activities with a view to
empowering local communities to participate in sustainable development initiatives. RCE-
Greater Pwani has particularly engaged the youth through youth based networks and groups
such as Network for Sustainable Development and Action on Climate Change.
Network for Sustainable Development and Action on Climate Change (NESDACC) is a not
for profit youth network that through intensive sustainable development activities and
collaboration with other interest organizations has builds capacities of the youth at different
levels. The youth network gives priority to broad thematic areas that include climate change,
Sustainable Development and green energy and environmental sustainability in its activities.

4. The network works in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders that work with RCE
Greater Pwani to provide technical assistance and linkages to the youth so that they are
effective and productive in sustainability endeavors.
Africa is the continent lagging behind the most, with sanitation coverage rate of less than 36
percent. Similar situations can be seen for access to energy or waste management. Yet these
services are necessary for a dignified sustainable life. Tackling these challenges again
requires mobilizing a whole host of energies from all walks of life, and of all ages. Network
for Sustainable Development and Action on Climate Change has realized the immense input
youth can put in place in the achievement of a more sustainable development. With the aim
of mobilizing more youth for the attainment of sustainability, the network has strived to
increase youth engagements through email discussions, social functions and activities as well
as through community meetings.
NESDACC and RCE Greater Pwani has engaged youth in several activities such as research
activities, organizing community based activities or events, participating in international
events such as World environment days, World Coastal Cleanup etcetera. The activities
chosen ensure that the youth acquire a passive attitude change and skills. The activities show
case sustainable development best practices.
Sustainable Development best practices
NESDACC in collaboration with its partners has been carrying out sustainable development
best practices that have seen the youth have a behavior change towards sustainability in all
forms. Some of the best practices are as highlighted below.
(i) Tree planting
Tree planting is an annual activity carried out jointly with RCE-Greater Pwani. Basically, it
has involved mobilizing and setting up small groups of youth from the local communities to
form tree planting teams. The groups have been trained and provided with relevant skills and
technologies to plant and nurture trees. The tree planting teams in each group mobilize other
youth groups in subsequent years to participate in the tree planting event. The tree planting
sites are identified as areas that are degraded and deforested that require rehabilitation. The
groups and interest in participating in the activities have been growing every year.

5. (ii) Establishing tree nurseries
Trees play a vital role in the environment ranging from providing food, acting as carbon sinks
to controlling erosion. It is with this understanding that the network has facilitated
establishment of tree nurseries at the community level. Up to date, the network owns a tree
nursery made up of entirely indigenous trees. The seedlings are then donated to schools and
community groups who express their interests in acquiring the seedlings for planting.
NESDACC recently identified an area with a problem of erosion and mobilized community
groups around the areas to plant tree. The network donated the seedling for the area to be
restored to near similar conditions before erosion.
(iii) Formation of environmental clubs
NESDACC aims at offering support high school and primary school students to form
Environmental Clubs in their respective schools. So far the network has helped come up with
an environmental club in one high school and opts to extend the same practice to other
schools in the region.

6. (iv) Community clean ups
The network in collaboration with RCE-Greater Pwani, private companies and government
institutions conducts clean-up activities
each year. Youth from the Kilifi
community are mobilized to participate
in such activities. These engagements
are purposed to impact appreciations for
the environment by the youth who
otherwise voluntarily work towards
ensuring environmental sustainability.
(v) Exchange programs
The network has taken some youth to Malindi at one of the beach plot residence where the
owners practice composting. The visit was purposely meant to engage with the host, interact
and share ideas and leaning the concept of composting. After the visit, the youth shared what
they had learnt with other youth who through the help of RCE-Greater Pwani. They are
currently organized to implement compositing activity at the Botanical garden at Pwani
University.
(vi) Awareness campaigns
RCE-Greater Pwani and NESDACC have organized awareness campaign events on a yearly
basis on various environmental issues. The campaigns serve as reminder to the local
community to be mindful of the future generation through wise use of resources. The
campaigns emphasize the need to embrace the culture of making our lives more sustainable
through recycling waste, sustainable living and sustainable energy use at the household level.
(vii) Sustainable artwork competitions
Each year, retreats are made in randomly selected places. They are meant to further enhance
engagements amongst the youth as well as serving as mind refresher. These activities allow
the youth to discover their creative talents where they create pieces of sustainable artwork.
The rule set is to use recycled materials. The winners are rewarded to appreciate creativity
and environmental sustainability. In this way, the youth feel motivated and otherwise practice
caution in their daily routines.

7. (viii) Information sharing
RCE-Greater Pwani organized an information sharing activity On March 2014 with high
school students within Kilifi.
NESDACC mobilized the youth
to participate in the activity. The
youth engaged with the students
and randomly shared and
discussed their understanding of
the environment. The aspects of
sustainable development were
also featured in this particular
engagement.
(ix) Collaborations
NESDACC network carries its work jointly with other organizations. The network mobilizes
local youth organizations in the community, empowering them to be able to collectively
address the most patterning issues hindering sustainable development.
Challenges and Lessons learnt
Challenges
(i) Experience Barriers
The youth are always taken as young to take leadership and therefore not given the
opportunity to acquire the skills at an early age. The youth have suffered an experience
barrier due to their exclusion in leadership positions and decision making processes.
(iii) Limited voice in forums
Young people have a limited voice in gathering be it meetings or forums. The youth get
intimidated to speak up in groups of adults, especially because young people are often
outnumbered in meetings.
Lessons Learnt
Engaging effectively with the youth provides benefits for both the networks and individual
youth. The benefits for organizations include:

8.  An all-inclusive organizational policy.
 Resilient, energetic and diverse communities.
 Relevant and acceptable organization decisions.
 Voluntarily work for the network because of being connected to the
community.
The benefits for the youth include:
 Developing skills, self-confidence and networks.
 Feeling valued and respected members of the community.
 Having a say in decisions that have impact on them.
 Being able to overcome stereotypes by being part of the solution for
community challenges.
Achievements (sustainably objective)
NESDACC has supported the capacity development of young people and youth-led
organizations at the community level, and has lobbied youth engagements in government
bodies. The network has engaged with stakeholders, among them RCE-Greater Pwani,
through outreach, advocacy, through leadership and global networks, in particular in the
context of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Conclusion and recommendations
Conclusion
Sustainability is basically a way to ensure that the damage we do today is not paid for by the
future generations. It means taking responsibility for what we do and use and ensuring that
we put something back when we take something from the earth, however small or
insignificant it might seem. Young people aged between 12-24 years old make up about 60
percent of our African population – that’s nearly 800 million people. In Kenya itself, young
people 12-24 years make up about 19 percent of the population, a figure that has been
increasing since 2001. Based on the numbers alone, the ideas, skills, and knowledge of about
60 percent of Africa’s population are being missed when young people are not mobilized.
Engaging with young people plays an important role in overall community development. It is
important because by encouraging young people to share their talents, skills and passion,
their capacity and that of the community increases. Youth and adults working together build

9. more vibrant and caring communities and communities are at their best when youth are
allowed to make meaningful contributions. Activities that encourage, support and allow
young people to actively engage and participate in communities are critical elements.
Recommendations
Young people in Africa should be able to voice their opinion and express their thoughts on
issues freely knowing that theses can actually make an impact and that there will be people
willing to listen. The following recommendations are suggested:
1. RCEs funding: funding mechanisms to be identified to increase youth engagements
within the respective RCEs.
2. Development challenges and issues facing youth today be identified through
conduction of surveys.
3. All youth should benefit from training and education, not only small elite groups. This
will enable the youth to gain skills at their early ages.
4. Organizing of continental youth summits which will further build and increase
networks amongst the youth. This would help build successes and leveraging skills
and competencies amongst youth.
5. Development policies should be formulated with the input of young people. Such
policies will almost certainly work better and last longer, as today’s youth will be
tomorrow’s leaders.
6. The involvement of young men and women in participatory decision-making and
development processes should be recognized as vital to achieving sustainable human
development.
7. Improve youth representation in both continental and global events by including them
in governing boards.
8. Acknowledgement that young people do have knowledge and skills to contribute,
even if they don’t have related professional experience.
REFERENCES
1. DiBenedetto, A. (1992). Youth groups: A model for empowerment. Networking
Bulletin, 2(3), 19-24.
2. “Mobilizing youth to build more sustainable development”
ideas4development.org/en/mobilizing-youth-build-sustainable-development/

10. 3. United Nation (2012). The future we want, A/RES/66/288, United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Available from
sustainabledevelopment.un.org/futurewewant.html
4. UN (2005) World Youth Report: Young People Today and in 2015