Youth and Sport Affairs Minister Hisham Mohammed Al Jowder and UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative Amin Al Sharkawi have signed a project document to implement the King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award is the first of its kind in the region, aimed at strengthening the efforts of the ministries of the Kingdom with various organizations and bodies affiliated to the United Nations.

The signing of the agreement between the Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme comes within the framework of the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Nations (2018 – 2022). This initiative supports progress already made towards the realization of the SDGS, as through this award all participating categories focus upon one or more of the 17 goals.

Al Jowder expressed the importance of signing the agreement with the UNDP as progress towards implementing the framework of the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Nations, especially related to youth. The project document aims to coordinate the continuous and growing cooperation between UNDP and the ministry, reflecting the joint effort to promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through programmes and initiatives targeting youth, according to the minister.

The minister said: "Among the joint programmes of cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme is the King Hamad Youth Empowerment award to achieve the global SDGs, which is one of the most important international awards to urge the world, governmental and private bodies to empower youth and support young minds. The Award attracts participants interested in creative innovations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to uniting global efforts on a single platform. The King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to achieve the SDGs embodies noble goals towards youth and the future of the whole world."

The minister reiterated his support of the mutual cooperation: "We are confident that cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will contribute to supporting the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain to provide youth globally with real opportunities to implement their innovations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals."

El Sharkawi praised the efforts of the Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs in integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its programmes, highlighting the Government of Bahrain’s determination in achieving the SDGs by 2030. "The King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to achieve the SDGs raises awareness on the SDGs, while promoting various ways to achieve them. It also supports innovation and sends a message of "Act good." The Award’s target audience is youth, of which there are currently 1.8 billion youth between the ages of 10-24, more than ever before. This is truly significant, as we not only aim to improve the world for future generations, but engage them in the development process to help create the world they want to see."

The UNDP resident representative added that the private sector, NGOs and government institutions all play an important role in supporting youth towards the achievement of the goals: "We in the UN in Bahrain hope that the King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to achieve the SDGs will encourage young minds and thinkers to innovate and work towards doing good for their communities and beyond."

El Sharkawi also highlighted the significance of and the long partnership between the United Nations in Bahrain and the Government of Bahrain, which youth have frequently been at the heart of. "Today’s signature builds on the recent signed Strategic Partnership Framework between the United Nations and the Government of Bahrain to support Bahrain in achieving its development objectives and the SDGs in the spirit of the Bahrain Vision 2030 and the Government Action Plan."

"Jurors, suggested by UNDP, came from different countries, and were efficient in soliciting applications for the award. This award is unique in that it is universal, objective and sustainable, and therefore, we at UNDP have ensured that the selection criteria is objective, impartial and transparent," El Sharkawi said.

The signing of the agreement was attended by the joint working team between the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign affairs.

Source: BNA