In September 2015, world leaders adopted the world’s first ever Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), also known as the Global Goals consisting of 17 goals that are designed to end poverty, halt climate change and fight injustice and inequality. The Global Goals are the biggest attempt in the history of mankind to make the world a better place. We all have a role to play in making these SDGs a reality. From governments to business and policymakers and youth, we must work together to ensure that we understand what the SDGs are and how we can contribute towards paving the way for more sustainable development worldwide, and especially in our own continent (Africa) and country (Togo).

African Youth for the Sustainable Development Goals is a new project that aims to engage youth aged 15-24 across Africa to better understand the SDGs and how they can contribute to the achievements of the SDGs. Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with the most youth than any other continent. We must tap into this resource and ensure that youth take their rightful place in leading change, creating innovative solutions and paving the way for a sustainable Africa.

In essence, this project aims to:

• Explain what the SDGs are and why they are important, particularly for Africa;
• Encourage African youth to develop their own ways of contributing to sustainable development at the local, national and regional levels;
• To raise awareness of, and create a platform for information sharing among youth on the SDGs;
• Engage youth on the SDGs through leadership training activities where youth will learn how to develop and lead their own sustainable development projects that address their city, country or region’s contexts, priorities, and needs

The added bonus of this project is that it is implemented in various countries in local languages so that youth can truly understand the message and importance of the SDGs.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Credit: UN/Project Everyone

Target Audience

The United Nations defines people between the ages of 15 and 24 as the youth. This project focuses on this age group as the main target audience. Youth are creative and intelligent individuals who want to contribute towards making their society a better place for all, but they need information and knowledge to do so. This project aims to focus on this target audience, as there is a lot of potential in engaging youth who are deciding what to do with their future. Through this project, youth will be exposed to the world of sustainable development and this may lead to their engagement in this field as a career. 

Project partners

This project was created in July 2015 by the Climate-Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN), with the in-kind support of United Nations Information Centre of U.N. Department Public Information (DPI), and in collaboration with various organizations, including World We Want 2030, Connect4Climate, Global Alliance on Climate-smart Agriculture (GACSA), Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN), the Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Climate and Agriculture Network for Africa (CANA), Environmental Protection and Development (EPDA), CSAYN Togo, Collectif des OSC pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et le Développement Rural (COSADER).

Banner Photo Credits: Dominic Chavez/World Bank​