Strengthening Space and Modalities: Meaningful Participation of Children and Youth in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

During the UNDRR Side Event 2022, Aloy Suratin (Director Programs and Sponsorship, ChildFund Indonesia) delivered his speech on children and youth participation in risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Three innovative approaches were presented in the UNDRR Forum 2022, which are the Air Pollution Monitoring Tool, Business Model for Youth in the Low-Carbon Economic Era, and Village Investment Model for addressing climate vulnerabilities and violence against children. Below is the complete speech.

Giving space and modalities for children and youth is a priority of the Sendai Framework. The ChildFund Alliance sees that governance is key to ensure this to happen. In collaboration with the Indonesia national government, local and national partners, and communities, ChildFund developed innovative approaches to ensure children and youth can act as change agents and key players in the low carbon economic setting.

AIR POLLUTING MONITORING TOOLS

There is limited public and private sector investment in tackling the negative impact of air pollution on the health of pregnant mothers, infants, and school-aged children. This shows a lack of commitment and governance from the public and private sector. ChildFund sees a need to mobilize more public and private sector investments to improve this situation. Rather than taking a conventional advocacy approach, ChildFund Indonesia developed an Air Pollution Monitoring Tool to measure ambient and indoor air pollution.

 With this data, ChildFund will install a tracker system in houses, early childhood development (ECD) centers, and industries. This approach will enable communities/households to adjust their behavior and influence their decision-making to minimize their exposure to pollutants. The tracker installed at ECD Centers will enable schools to improve their school education policies to increase children’s protection from the negative impact of air pollution and allows them to adjust school infrastructure to minimize risks. At industry level, installation of the tracker will prompt companies to integrate air pollution impact into their Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Standards.

Green Business Model for Meat Production

Reinventing the meat production value chain is part of our strategy in Indonesia to enable youth entrepreneurship through low-carbon development initiatives. This innovation is key for youth to be a key player in the green economy era. The model currently developed by ChildFund consists of four components: low-emission cattle production, low-energy meat processing, incentives for youth entrepreneurship, and creating a green-market network.

This will enhance youth capacity to be an active player in reducing carbon emission from meat consumption and production, it will increase household income, and enhance capacities of local governments to meet their emission reduction target. Lastly, it is an example of a build back better strategy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Youth Inclusive Village Investment Model

Violence Against Children (VAC) remains a reality for many children in Indonesia. In the semi-arid region in East Nusa Tenggara, climate risks exacerbate children’s risk to violence. ChildFund currently works with youth in this province to amplify their voice for an inclusive Village Investment Model. This is a public and private fund that integrates the best interests of children and youth. This approach will increase youth access to financial resources for taking practical actions to reduce their risks and vulnerabilities.
The Inclusive Village Investment Model will be used as a reference for village and district government to align their existing decisions for public fund allocations and private sector investments to incentivize vulnerable households and youth to tackle the double-burden of climate-induced disasters and VAC risks. This approach is innovative as it will reorient the investment model towards fitting to the need of the children and youth.

Takeaways

Better governance is key for creating space for children and youth to be the agent of change in reducing climate-induced risk and disaster. An innovative way to convince public and private sector decision makers to integrate the best interest of the child and youth is required. In addition, a new business model and investment model are required to enhance youth entrepreneurship to embrace the new era of low carbon development.