Global Youth Environment Assembly (Global YEA) is a crucial platform that gathers young environmental enthusiasts and policy advocates from around the world to participate in policy discussions, knowledge-sharing, and the formulation of the Global Youth Declaration on Environment to be presented at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA6). The 2024 edition of the Global YEA is set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, strategically scheduled in the lead-up to OECPR6 & UNEA6. The theme for UNEA6 is “Effective, Inclusive, and Sustainable Multilateral Actions to Tackle Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution.” Global YEA is geared towards aligning youth perspectives and priorities with this crucial theme.
Background:
- The Children and Youth Major Group is the mandated, self-organized constituency for youth engagement in UNEP and UNEA.
- As part of our engagement in UNEA 6, we will be supporting youth participation in UNEA, OECPR, and associated meetings via funds raised through UN member states and partner organizations.
Funding types:
- Full funding: Flights, accommodation, Per diem (for food, local transportation, etc)
- Part funding: Accommodation and/or local subsistence funding, subject to proof of funding for other components.
- All support will either be provided directly in-kind (i.e. flights and hotels booked on behalf of the youth participant) or reimbursed upon presentation of relevant receipts.
- Full funding is prioritized for youth who can take part in all components, starting from the GYEA through to the UNEA.
- However, on a case-by-case basis, the constituency will also consider providing funding for youth who can only take part in specific components.
Application Forms:
There are three separate pools of funding available.
- EU pool: Limited to youth who are EU citizens AND with permanent residence in an EU member state. If you only meet one of the two criteria, you will have to apply as part of the global pool.
- Spots available: 4, with a view to sub-regional and gender balance.
- Link to form for EU pool: https://forms.gle/kG4szkamqPJYru3Z9
- Deadline: 17th Jan 2024, 2359 UTC
- Global pool: Available for citizens/refugee status youth born in or residing in any country other than EU member states.
- Ten (10) youth, subject to funding availability, will be provided with financial support to attend GYEA, OECPR-6, and UNEA-6 (17 Feb – 1 Mar)
- Deadline: 17th Jan 2024, 2359 UTC
- Kenya pool: Available for Kenya-based youth.
- Fifty (50) youth will be provided with a small stipend (to cover local transportation within Nairobi and food) for GYEA (17-18 Feb) only.
- Deadline: 21st Jan 2024, 2359 UTC
- A separate registration form will be opened soon for youth who have secured funding but require accreditation.
Link to form for Global and Kenya Pools: https://forms.gle/DqgiH6kdxfcVuGEUA
Selection Process:
- Applications will be evaluated by a committee of peers from CYMG.
- If you are not applying for the opportunities and are interested in assisting with the selection process, please reach out to CYMG GFPs at admin@youthenvironment.org.
Requirements of successful candidates:
- Be a member of the Children and Youth Major Group. If you have not joined the constituency, please register as ‘an individual’ at cymgenv.net/join.
- Actively participate in the Global Youth Environmental Assembly 2024, Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, UNEA-6, and other meetings.
- Basic understanding of International Environmental Governance Processes.
- Commit to being active on social media during the meeting.
- Previous engagement in CYMG and/or UNEA process will be given priority.
- Engagement in other environmental processes will be considered as an asset.
Information Sessions:
- To answer any questions that might arise ahead of the application deadline, two information sessions will be held on the 13th of January. Please register via the links below.
-
- Session 1: 0900 – 0945 UTC
-
- Session 2: 2100 – 2145 UTC
- Both sessions will be recorded and shared on YouTube.
For more information, please refer to our website at www.cymgenv.net.
Should you have any further questions, please reach out to admin@youthenvironment.org.