The United Nations Egypt and ACTs Sustainable organized the Sustainable Egypt Youth Summit and the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Egypt 2024, on November 1-2, hosted by Nile University.

The summit aims to empower youth to address climate and sustainability challenges through workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Key themes included youth empowerment, green skills, entrepreneurship, policy advocacy, and climate action.

The agenda featured a diverse range of speakers from government, NGOs, and the private sector, including representatives from UNFPA, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The opening ceremony on the first day included keynote speakers, including by Mohammed Elkholy, UNFPA Youth Programme Associate, and a theater performance by Nawah team, followed by parallel sessions on topics such as civil society's role in the green transition and climate change science. The second day focused on policy outputs, youth leadership, and entrepreneurship, with sessions on topics such as Egypt's national adaptation plans and the role of AI in sustainability.

The summit concluded with a closing ceremony featuring a recap of key outputs, youth-driven policy demands, and keynote speeches by Germaine Haddad, UNFPA Assistant Representative, among other distinguished speakers.

UNFPA’s Elkholy participated in a panel titled "Strengthening Youth Empowerment and Leveraging Active Networks," which emphasized the critical role of empowering youth and building strong, active communities.

Mohammed Rabea, a member of UNFPA’s youth network Y-PEER, participated in a panel titled "Civil Society Role in Advancing Advocacy Literacy on Sustaining Green Transition in Egypt," which explored civil society’s pivotal role in advocating and building public awareness around Egypt’s green transition.

Y-PEER trainers also participated in a panel titled "Policy Outputs from Egypt’s Governorates: Local Youth Action on Climate," which showcased key policy outputs from youth-led initiatives across Egypt’s governorates, highlighting how local communities are addressing climate challenges through action and collaboration.

Moreover, Y-PEER trainers conducted a workshop titled "Youth-Driven Policy Advocacy: Strategies for Success," which delved into best practices for youth to effectively influence national and international climate policies. Participants learned strategies for successful policy advocacy, exploring how young leaders can drive change and shape climate action agendas at both the local and global levels.