Independent Youth Dialogue on Youth Engagement for Climate Action & Resilient Food Systems: Kenya

8th September, 2021 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm EAT

Independent Youth Dialogue on Youth Engagement for Climate Action & Resilient Food Systems: Kenya

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8th September, 2021 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm EAT

Introduction

Food systems are an integral part of human life, providing nutrition, food security and livelihoods to people across the globe. The livelihoods of those dependent on food systems are at stake with climate change impacting crops, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture, and current food systems contributing to climate change at the same time. Against this background, there is a clear need to transform food systems and make them more resilient, sustainable, and climate-friendly. Resilient food systems will ensure human well-being and health, help people adapt to climate change impacts, and secure their livelihoods, thereby reducing poverty.


Youth are key stakeholders in this transformation of food systems. The health, stability, and sustainability of food systems connect directly to the health, well-being, food security, nutrition, development, and financial stability of youth, with sustainable consumption and production as a prerequisite for a healthy and conducive environment for the young generation. It is vital that youth are a part of transforming food systems as they can contribute to the progress of the five action tracks and climate adaptation action.


Guided by five Action Tracks and four “levers of change,” the United Nations Food Systems Summit is aimed at transforming the way the world produces and consumes food as a part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The five action tracks include ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all, shifting to sustainable consumption patterns, boosting nature-positive production, advancing equitable livelihoods, and building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses.

 

Each action track aims at transforming food systems, focusing on access to safe and affordable food, changes in consumption and dietary patterns to reduce wasteful food patterns, optimal use of environmental resources to reduce stress on the environment and greenhouse gas emissions, the resilience of the workforce through social protection, and risk management for the stability of food systems.

As part of activities related to SLYCAN Trust’s annual Global Youth Forum on Climate Change (GYFCC,) the development of a strategy for youth engagement in climate action and policy, and in commemoration of International Youth Day 2021, SLYCAN Trust is organizing a series of independent dialogues on youth engagement for climate action and resilient food systems. The findings of these international and national events will be submitted to the United Nations Food Systems Summit and aim to contribute to the solutions identified under the Summit’s five action tracks, as well as be integrated to the draft youth climate action strategy being developed under the GYFCC. 

This event in Kenya, is conducted by SLYCAN Trust in collaboration with Amazon Theatrix Ensemble (A.T.E), a community-based youth organization in Kisumu. Amazon Theatrix Ensemble is an organization that prioritizes the use of art and media to educate, stimulate tolerance, raise awareness, and foster holistic growth and social integration. This event focuses on enhancing youth engagement and inclusion in climate action and food systems as well as on identifying challenges faced by youth living in informal settlements when it comes to building resilient food systems in Kenya.


Objectives

  • Enhancing youth engagement and inclusion in climate action and food systems
  • Identifying key areas and entry points for youth engagement in climate action and innovative, youth-led solutions for resilient food systems
  • Identifying challenges and barriers, gaps and constraints for effective youth engagement in climate action and food system transformation
  • Discussing possibilities to scale up youth contributions and existing youth-led initiatives through innovative action
  • Understanding the specific challenges of youth in informal settlements when it comes to food systems, youth engagement, and resilience

Speakers

Sajani Ranasinghe

Legal and Policy Analyst
SLYCAN Trust

Edwin Koga

Director
Amazon Theatrix Ensemble

Joab Oluoch

Director United
Destiny Shapers Community Based Organisation

Roy Odawa

Agriculture Champion
Kisumu East Sub-County

Trezer Mware

Community Food Activist

Martin Nyawara

Artistic Director
Amazon Theatrix Ensemble

Moderators & Facilitators

Agenda

Martin Nyawara

Artistic Director
Amazon Theatrix Ensemble

Opening Session


10.00 am - 10.05 am EAT

Welcome & Introduction

Mr. Edwin Koga

Director 

Amazon Theatrix Ensemble


10.05 am - 10.30 am EAT

Speech by:

Ms. Sajani Ranasinghe

Legal & Research Officer,

SLYCAN Trust


Mr. Joab Oluoch

Director United 

Destiny Shapers Community Based Organisation


Mr. Roy Odawa

Agriculture Champion

Kisumu East Sub-County


Ms. Trezer Mware

Community Food Activist


Mr. Martin Nyawara (Moderator)

Artistic Director 

Amazon Theatrix Ensemble

   

Mr. Edwin Koga

Director 

Amazon Theatrix Ensemble

Session 2: Group Discussion

 10.30 am - 11.50 am EAT

Action Track 1: Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all

  • What are challenges for ensuring safe and nutritious food for all? Are there specific challenges in informal settlements?
  • How can youth contribute to sustainable and resilient food systems? What are youth-driven solutions to ensure accessible, affordable, and nutritious food for all?
  • What are good practices and lessons learned for youth engagement in food systems?


Action Track 2: Shift to sustainable consumption patterns

  • How can sustainable consumption transform food systems to be resilient, ethical, and climate-friendly?
  • What is the role of youth in finding solutions for sustainable food production and distribution?
  • What are good practices and lessons learned for youth engagement toward sustainable consumption and food production?


Action Track 5: Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress

  • How do instability and uncertainty in food systems impact youth? What are obstacles for youth engagement?
  • How can youth contribute to solutions to make food systems more resilient against shocks and stresses?
  • What are good practices and lessons learned for youth engagement in food systems and resilience-building?


Closing Remarks

11.50 am - 12.00 noon EAT

Speech By

Mr. Edwin Koga

Director 

Amazon Theatrix Ensemble

Information Note

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