Restless Development has a unique role to play. I’d go as far to say that we are more relevant today than ever before. Which is why I feel honoured, excited, and apprehensive (given what’s at stake) as I take up the interim Co-CEO role at Restless Development, alongside Kate Muhwezi.
With half the world under 30, and another 10 billion people due to be born this century – there are more young people than ever before. And yet the decisions being made that determine our future are not being made by young people.
MISSED TARGETS
The world today is rife with growing injustices, and young people are all too often faring the worst. Rising inequality, poverty, global heating and polarisation have all been further exacerbated by the pandemic. The countries with the smallest economies, and lowest access to vaccines are also typically those with the largest youth populations.
One of the only Global Goal targets set for 2020, target 8.6 to reduce youth unemployment, was missed, instead youth unemployment has risen in the five years since the target was set. In addition, the pandemic has turned the education crisis into a learning catastrophe as young people have been excluded.
The international development sector is not fit for purpose. It lacks funding, popular support, and has a history of perpetuating the power imbalances that need addressing, especially structural racism and the white saviour complex.