THE PAN AFRICAN YOUTH CONFERENCE

OUTCOME DOCUMENT
ACTION PLAN (2017-2020)

Partnership for Capacity Development on Sustainable Urbanization,

protection against Hazardous Chemical and Waste towards
Achieving 2030 Agenda

Ministry of Environment and

Natural Resources Kenya
Overview
The Pan African Youth Action Plan 2017-2020 is a key outcome document of the Pan-
African Youth Conference that took place under the Auspices of the UN-Environment under
the theme: Partnership for Capacity Development on Sustainable Urbanization, protection
against Hazardous Chemical and Waste towards Pollution Free World, convened by the
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in collaboration with National Youth Green
Growth Secretariat (NY2GS) a National youth-led organization striving to achieve Green
Economy transition in Kenya and the region through Youth engagement and participation.

NY2GS contributes to the transformation and localization of the Global agendas by

implementing programmes/projects that are tailored towards hastening the green economy
transition process in Kenya and the African region through capacity building, project
implementation and knowledge sharing for young people to understand the green economy
concept for sustainable development with specific focus on young peoples socio-economic
and environmental development towards a sustainable future.

September 2015 was a big month in New York, as the world leaders adopted the 2030
Agenda for sustainable development: a new set of goals to be implemented over the next 15
years for a better world under the theme the future we want. This has marked a new
paradigm shift that has seen global leaders taking steps towards ensuring sustainable
growth is achieved across sectors while supporting environmental consciousness. From the
Paris Agreement to Quito outcome on urban sustainability and now headed to the UNEA3
2017 the Pan-African Youth Conference was hosted at time when Africa is facing a lot of
challenges in management of hazardous chemicals and waste with huge populations pilling
pressure on urban municipalities to expand.

Future prosperity of Africas economies and ability to achieve the ambitious 2063 Agenda
for Sustainable Development for the region will rely on more effective and efficient
management of chemicals, reduction of emission, minimization of waste and having
sustainable urban planning. The Africas future economic growth lies on the hand of young
people who comprise of 65% of the total population. The youth are the key players in the
waste management sectors from collection to dismantling as they scavenge for scrap
metals, polythine and other materials hand them some cash for their livelihood support. To
this regard the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs provide an important
impetus for implementation on inclusive and sustainable programmes that will support

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environmental friendly conditions and poverty reduction towards achieving sustainable
urbanisation and chemical and waste management for sustainability.

Pan-African Youth Conference Objectives

The overall objective of the conference was to raise awareness, identify collaborative
partnerships for the youth and representatives of governments, private sector and civil
society organizations under the partnership for effective development, to identify priorities of
action needed for capacity building and training, challenges and opportunities available for
youth towards development agenda and accelerating sustainable urbanisation, protecting
youth from hazardous chemicals and decent employment for youth in the sector
subsequently achieving sustainable growth in Africa.

This forum will strengthen cooperation for Aid effectiveness and create partnership links
between youth, governments and stakeholders in the sector thus poverty reduction in Africa.

In keeping with this aim, the Conference seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1) Share experiences and knowledge on youth engagement in growth and development,

policies, strategies and programs under the theme.

2) Raised capacities on the effects of chemicals and sustainable mechanisms towards

addressing the hazardous chemical and waste management crisis in Africa

3) Responding to the challenges of urbanization coupled with chemicals and waste

management in Africa

4) Building the capacity and advocacy mechanisms on effects of hazardous chemicals

and waste on the reproductive health and environment.

5) Provide recommendations on capacity development projects aimed at protecting

youth from hazardous chemicals and waste for sustainable urbanisation and growth.

The conference hosted under the Auspices of the UN-Environment Regional office for Africa,
with support from the UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP-IETC),
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Kenya, National Environment Management
Authority of Kenya, Green Economy Alliance Partners Kenya, African Youth Partnership
initiative, Safaricon Ltd, Friedrich Ebert stiftung and other partners brought together more
that 150 delegates from 24 African Countries to have a conversation on the issues affecting
young people, opportunities and providing solutions to the effects of Pollution in Africa.
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The conference outcome was the Pan-African Youth Statement a head of the Conference of
Parties of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions known as the thirteenth
meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-13), the eighth
meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-8) and the
eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-8)
held from 24 April to 5 May 2017 and the towards Pollution free Africa- Youth Action Plan
2017-2020.

Introduction of the Action Plan

i) This Action Plan spells out goals to be achieved and specific measures to be implemented by
organizers alongside partners beyond 2017. The Action Plan is geared to achieve the following
objectives:
ii) Capacity Development and information sharing
iii) Partnerships
iv) Monitoring and review through global and regional avenues such as the Triple COPs, United
Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 3), Urban sustainability dialogue as well as the SDGs
1) Capacity Development and information sharing
Capacity building will go a long way in ensuring proper handling of hazardous chemicals and
wastes thereby minimizing risks to humans and the environment. Capacity building will target
members of the public, local rural and urban communities.
Capacity development will include;
I. Development and support of the Public Participation with a view to enhance local youth
led innovations in waste management to mainstream the concept of green business in
their undertakings.
II. Network and Local Community Development Committees, to ensure that a diversity of
voices is heard and included in local decision-making processes and that, communities
continue to identify their own needs and solutions on Hazardous Chemicals and Waste
issues.
III. Identification of hazardous chemicals and waste
IV. Awareness creation with the intention to spark behavior change on waste management
strategies.
2) Partnerships
Partnerships will be with players in chemical and hazardous substances. They include the
academia, private sector and informal sector.

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We intend to enhance collaboration between governments, both at national and county
level to engage youth further in planning and implementation of waste management work
plans for solid waste management initiatives .
Develop horizontal linkages among groups dealing with solid waste management at the local
level.
3) Monitoring and review through global and regional avenues such as the Triple COPs, United
Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 3), Urban sustainability dialogue as well as the SDGs
The thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP-13),
the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (RC COP-8) and
the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (SC COP-8) will
be held from 24 April to 5 May 2017.
The meetings will be organized back-to-back and will include joint sessions on joint issues. The
meetings will also feature a high-level segment. The high-level segment is scheduled for the
afternoon of Thursday, 4 May and the morning of Friday, 5 May 2017. The theme of the
meetings and the high-level segment will be "A future detoxified: sound management of
chemicals and waste".
PYC Nairobi makes the following resolutions to be presented to the UNEA 3. Some of these
resolutions can be found on the youth statement.
Development of the urban sustainability framework under which information sharing will be
conducted through an interface both online and offline
4) Monitoring, review and follow up
i) Monitoring to be done at the pan African youth conferences as to be adopted.
ii) Reporting through the COPs/MOPs and UNEA meetings

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 PYC ACTION PLAN (2017-2020)
S/NO Thematic Objective Action Implementing Reporting Avenues Partner Institutions
Areas agency
1. Hazardous To facilitate Solid waste separation UN-Habitat Conference of BRS, Government Ministries
Chemicals resource efficiency campaign UN-Environment AMCEN, of Environment
and Waste and prevention of Marine litter campaign African UNEA Environmental
management land, air and water Plastic ban campaign Governments COPs/MOPs Management Authorities
pollution. Identification, BRS Secretariat PYC NGOs
documentation and National and Online sharing Youth Led Community
dissemination of Best Regional Youth platform (Portal) based organisations
Practices in waste led organisations Private Sector players
management
Facilitate youth
initiatives awarding
system
2. Climate To transform Mainstreaming inclusive UN-Habitat Conference of BRS, Min. of Env
Change/ climate change youth participation in the UN Environment AMCEN, NGOs
technology challenges into implementation of African UNEA Min. of
and climate opportunities for country specific existing Governments COPs/MOPs energy/water/planning,
hub sustainable climate change policies BRS Secretariat PYC IGOs, CSOs etc
development Develop online and Online sharing
offline campaigns on platform (Portal)
climate adaptation and
mitigation
Encouraging youth led
innovations and solutions
on climate change
Incorporation with youth
networks and
associations, launch
campaigns and
awareness raising
activities on green house
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 gas emissions and air
pollution
3. Food loss To achieve food Encourage agribusiness UN-Habitat Conference of BRS, Min. of Env
and food security within partnership to among UN Environment AMCEN, NGOs
waste Africa young Africans African UNEA Min. of
Create enabling Governments COPs/MOPs water/agriculcure/industry/r
environment to promote BRS Secretariat PYC esearch, IGOs, CSOs etc
use of efficient Online sharing
agricultural technology platform (Portal)
by youth
Create enabling
environment fostering
youth participation to
market access
4 Environment To develop market Enhance research and UN-Habitat Conference of BRS, Min. of Env
al Education driven skills promote use of science, UN Environment AMCEN, NGOs
and Training through education policy and technology African UNEA Min. of
and curriculum. Encourage effective Governments COPs/MOPs water/agriculture/industry/r
virtual learning platforms BRS Secretariat PYC esearch/education, IGOs,
Online sharing CSOs etc
platform (Portal)
5. Employment, To address the Encourage the UN-Habitat Conference of BRS, Min. of Social
Technology current youth establishment of Youth UN Environment AMCEN, Affairs/Environment,
and Social Bulge and innovation Hubs African UNEA IGOs, CSOs etc
Innovations transform it into a Create enabling Governments COPs/MOPs
productive youth environment for BRS Secretariat PYC
dividend employment of the Online sharing
youth platform (Portal)
Development and
promotion of the young
professionals program
including in IGOs
Promote formal and
private sector
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 opportunities for youth
6 Waste to To invest in Develop a renewable UN-Habitat UNEA Mins. of Env
Energy/ renewable energy energy contest for young UN Environment COPs/MOPs NGOs
renewable and promote green people African PYC Mins. of
energy initiatives Promote sustainable use Governments Online sharing water/industry/mining,
production of green energy BRS Secretariat platform (Portal) IGOs, CSOs etc
Mainstream the
renewable energy
concept into learning
path.
Create an enabling
environment for policy
and advocacy at the
regional and national
levels on renewable
energy