DEVELOPING AND MANAGING YOUTH TALENT FOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SDGS
On 7 August 2019, the keynote speeches and panel discussion took place. The main of the master class was on Developing and Managing Youth Talent for Achievement of SDGs. The keynote speakers and panelists were composed of UN professionals and academic scholars:Mr. Zhen Wang, Chief of Talent Planning, Acquisition and Development Division in Human Resource Management Department of UNIDO, Ms. Lucrezia Pala, Human Resource Consultant in the Talent Planning, Acquisition and Development Division, Human Resource Management Department of UNIDO, Ms. Ekaterina Lazarova, FAO Global IVF Programme, Dr. Tareq Rasheed, International Consultant and Trainer for the ITCILO, and Professor Mara Del Baldo, Associate Professor of Financial, Accounting and Economics of Sustainability and Accountability at the University of Urbino, Italy.Each speaker delivered a speech on the topic, sharing their knowledge and experience to GYLA participants. Here are some of the ideas on guiding youth to find their path.
Mr. Wang gave a brief introduction to the history of UNIDO, an international organization established in 1966. UNIDO provides cross-cutting services in areas including circular economy, gender equality and industrial advice. Mr. Wang pointed out that UNIDO always attaches great importance to the environmental and gender issues that are closely related to SDGs and the background and development of SDGs. In terms of cooperation with China, since 1963 UNIDO has been receiving donations from Chinese government. Starting from 2020, China will be the number-one donor to UNIDO. Moreover, Mr. Wang mentioned that China also received constructive advice from UNIDO about the booming of domestic industry and the implementation of the Reform and Opening-Up policies. In closing his speech, Mr. Wang encouraged participants to join in and work for the UN in the future.
Ms. Lucrezia Pala introduced three paths for young people who would like to work for the UN. The first way is through JPO Programme from which many UN staff start. JPO programme should be an internship. Ms. Pala also suggested that young people who want to work for the UN should have different kinds of qualities and skills, such as team spirit, multi-cultural background and respect for diversity.
Ms. Ekaterina Lazarova, the HR Officer of the Human Resources of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), gave a speech on “Harnessing the Youth Talent to Achieve Zero Hunger (SDG2). She introduced the role that FAO plays in providing support for countries that face myrid of demands and challenges in agricultural development. She also introduced FAO Global IVF Programme which allows students from all over the world to become an intern or volunteers, fellows in FAO.
Dr. Tareq Rasheed started his speech by a question to participants: Which one do you think is more important, a compass or a clock? Looking for answers, he explained that as the young talent, we need to have a clear track of mind. Before we enter the society or start our career path, we may first ask ourselves which is the right way to go. His message to all is that no matter right or left, if you don’t know where to go, then neither is the right way.
The keynote speeches and panel discussion provided the participants with a great opportunity to interact and dialogue with the UN professionals and academic scholars on the international talent development and engagement of young talents in social change and participation in global governance.
