European Union launches Youth Sounding Board in Uganda

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KAMPALA – The European Union Delegation to Uganda has inaugurated a 20-member Youth Sounding Board, a body of young Ugandans, who will help in shaping and implementing EU programmes and strategies in the country for more inclusiveness.

The inauguration is part of the EU’s commitment to incorporating young Ugandans in its decision-making process, said Jan Sadek, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Uganda.

Members of the EU Youth Sounding Board (EU-YSB) will have an unpaid mandate of two years.

“The Youth Sounding Board aims to create a real change in how the EU engages with young people at global and local levels,” Mr. Sadek said, August 30, noting that the board serves as a bridge between young Ugandans and the Delegation.

“The European Union Delegation to Uganda has established a Youth Sounding Board to strengthen engagement and dialogue with Ugandan youth and to advice on the relevance and effectiveness of its actions and development cooperation with Uganda,” the ambassador explained at his residence in Kololo.

He said the inaugural board is composed of 20 young people, who are between 23 and 30 years old and that were selected out of hundreds of applications of young and motivated Ugandans from across the country.

“They bring a diversified expertise and engagement covering the key issues of governance, gender, education, environment, climate change, skilling and jobs and health.”

Mr. Sadek said the Youth Sounding Board which will serve as a knowledge hub for the EU in Uganda to exchange information and share ideas on youth issues, will also advise the EU on issues related to youth empowerment and participation in development processes.

The Youth Sounding Board will also benefit from capacity-building activities such as leadership, advocacy, and networking,” he said.

Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, the Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development said the   EU has been a worthy partner in youth development and investment, stressing that “the continuous engagement of our youth is the only way we can meet them at the point of their needs.”

She noted that the 20 youths that were picked went through a credible process and charged them to be worthy ambassadors of the country, adding that the launch of the EU Youth Sounding Board in Uganda is a big opportunity for the youth.

“I believe that listening to the voices of the young people is a very good start and of course, to have a solid future. For the youth of Uganda, I believe this initiative offers an inspiring example of what can be achieved when young voices are valued and included,” the Minister said during the inauguration of the board.

“We expect you that as you dialogue with and advise the EU delegation you will do it with integrity and the heart of the young people of this country. We expect you to propose critical areas and to advocate for projects and programs that are responsive to the needs and the rights of our young people. I therefore implore you, as you take on this new responsibility to ensure that you equip yourselves with the relevant and up-to-date information, especially from the thematic areas that you have selected,” she added.

Howard Mwesigwa, the chairperson of the inaugural Youth Sounding Board said the board will inform and shape the Uganda-EU Development Cooperation, to ensure that it is youth-centric and alive to the true needs and aspirations of the Youth in Uganda, as a focus group.

He said each of the Members of the Board has been mandated a lead of a particular thematic area including Climate, Environment and energy, Gender, Human Rights, Skilling, and Jobs.

Under his leadership, he said his administration will prioritize the adoption of a youth-centric approach in the EU’s targeted cooperation agenda focusing on green and climate transition, sustainable growth and jobs, democratic governance, and social inclusion.

“As the YSB, we are also committed to extending our timely intervention to the cross-cutting themes like human rights, gender equality, the digital agenda as well as support to civil society,” he added.