Youth Decision-making for Healthy and Sustainable Cities and Communities Case Studies from Egypt and the United Kingdom

This SDGs in Action event focuses on creating youth-friendly and inclusive cities through youth-led initiatives highlighting best practices from around the world, particularly Egypt and the United Kingdom (UK). It will bring together policymakers, academics, practitioners, and community leaders, and youth representatives to consider the importance of creating youth-friendly and healthy cities.

First, the Egyptian government and Ministry of Youth and Sports will present on how youth centers, youth hostels, and other facilities can be designed and managed to provide a positive and enriching experience for young people in urban areas to increase their wellbeing and capacities. It will draw linkages between sustainable urbanization and the SDGs to ensure that no one is left behind in cities, with a particular focus on SDG localization in the domains of culture, economy, society, environment, health, and governance.

Second, in a ground-breaking project, University of East London (UEL) and London Borough of Newham, funded by the National institute for Health Research (NIHR), engaged with over 500 young people and supported 30 youth champions as youth policymakers, diplomats, and parliamentarians to renegotiate a new social contract to deliver more effective decision-making and participation in delivery of local health services. Using youth-responsive tools and human rights-based approaches, from the Global Land Tool Network and the Quezon City Framework for Developing a New Social Contract, the UEL Noon Centre for Equality and Diversity, working with 85+ GLTN partners is supporting climate action, gender equality, and youth empowerment toward achieving land rights and sustainable urbanisation for all.