KNOMAD: Youth, Migration and Development: A New Lens for Critical Times

16.03.23: Young migrants bring creativity & are often risk takers, prepared to seize opportunities with a greater awareness of climate challenges. Many have a thirst for equality and peace & the belief that problems are only the beginnings of future solutions they can contribute to. Thus, it is integral to include youth and migrants in policy-making decisions while employing locally sustainable solutions especially in Africa's low and middle-income nations, where migration desires are most common but unfold in challenging contexts.

Samuel Hall, KNOMAD, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UNDP, and The World Bank organised a workshop on ‘Youth, Migration, and Development: A New Lens for Critical Times’ with panellists Sonia Plaza, Alessandra Casazza, Jason Gagnon, Ishimwe Jean Marie and Mary Munyoki.

The highly participatory discussion included sharing Samuel Hall’s findings from the field on youth integration, behaviour and experience; reasons, drivers, and motivators for youth disenchantment; youth participation and the cycle of migration. The participants included donors, development agencies, NGOs, CSOs, and more importantly community based organisations led by youth and refugees in Nairobi and refugees and youth themselves. There was active participation from the diverse audience with reflections and exchanges from Samuel Hall’s research on the case studies of Senegal, Tunisia and Kenya.

In a global context marked by crises, this event proved once again that young migrants are resourceful actors of development.