Background
The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat—it is a reality affecting billions of people today. Around 3.6 billion people live in areas highly vulnerable to climate impacts such as floods, storms, droughts, and heatwaves, while over 124 million people are affected by climate-related disasters each year. Over the last few decades, these impacts of the climate crisis have stimulated a response to climate change, but for the longest time, mitigation and adaptation have been the focus. This means we talk about advertising and minimizing, but we leave out addressing the current and past impact of the climate crisis.
This gap suggests a looming reality now and in the future. Those most affected are the younger generation, whose voices are often missing from global decision-making spaces. Recognizing this urgent need, the Youth Engagement on Loss and Damage Program was launched. The Youth Engagement on Loss and Damage Program provided a unique opportunity for youth from community-led and youth-led organizations to deepen their understanding of the Loss and Damage landscape while strengthening their advocacy skills. Facilitated by Miss Ineza Umuhoza Grace under the GermanWatch consultancy, the program moved participants from “blind advocacy” to strategic advocacy, ensuring that youth voices effectively shape national, regional, and global decision-making processes.
Objectives of The Program
By the end of the program, participants were able to:
- Understand the global and national Loss and Damage landscape.
- Identify opportunities for youth engagement from 2025 to 2028.
- Create clear, actionable demands and transform them into policy recommendations.
Program Breakdown
- The first phase consisted of six virtual sessions, held twice a week. The selected participants from the pool of 100+ that applied engaged with experts on a range of critical topics:
What is Loss and Damage
Introduction to Loss and Damage Framework (2013–2024)
Deep Dive on the Current State of Loss and Damage (GST, NCQG, etc.)
Where are the Developing Countries and Communities’ Voices
Opportunities for Loss and Damage (2025–2028) – Role of Local Actors
- From Points of Demands to Policy Recommendations
- The second phase focused on Knowledge Product Creation and Amplification.
Following the training, 10 youth were selected to participate in the second phase, focusing on knowledge product creation under the guidance of Miss Ineza Umuhoza Grace. These knowledge products—including blogs, opinion pieces, videos, and photo stories—are designed to reach decision-makers and the public, amplifying youth voices in the loss and damage discourse. Selection for this phase was based on engagement and performance during the training.
Outcomes
By the end of phase 2 of the program, the youths produced 8 advocacy materials: 2 blogs, 2 videos, and 4 opinion papers/briefs.
- All
- Blogs
- Opinion briefs/paper
- Videos
