Youth Delegate Proposal Submission
Committee : UNIANYD
Representing Organization: United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for
Development (UNCSTD)
Agenda: Reconcile the digital divide through youth in the age of automated technology to
enhance youth civic engagement and access to evolving technological advancement
Overview of the Proposal
In this regard, the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development
views the ever-more insurmountable digital divide as an emerging concern of youth civic
engagement at this point in our automated society. This paper therefore introduces the program
“Empowering Youth for Inclusive Digital Citizenship” with the aim of strengthening civic life in
youth by increasing digital literacy and access to state-of-the-art technology. The project would
fill this gap for the youths of the underprivileged areas of our country in such a way that each
and every individual gets equal opportunities to succeed in this technologically dominated world.
Objectives
Digital Inclusion: Increase availability and access to digital devices and internet services
among youth from poor rural and peripheral-urban areas.
Youth Empowerment for Civic Engagement: Training the youth with basic digital
skills to demand rights, enable participation in decision-making processes, and undertake
activities in community service.
Safes Digital Spaces to Discuss : Provide appropriate safe places on the internet for
children to find information about, discuss issues affecting their civic life, and
communicate with one another.
Technology Innovation for Sustainable Development: Nurture digital platforms and
automation that enable pathways to employ the youth in resource-constrained
communities in the workforces that will lead to achieving UN SDGs.
Operational Plan
• Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: These would be established through agencies of the United
Nations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and UNDP, in concert with governments, the private
sector, and civil society.
• Needs Assessment: Complete needs assessments at the level of the local community would be
carried out.
• Capacity Building: The training would extend to educators, community leaders, and youth
mentors.
• Content Creation: Development of culturally relevant curricula in digital literacy.
• Innovation Hubs: These would create youth-led innovation hubs and makerspaces on subject
matters.
Expected Outputs
• Digital Literacy: The proportion of youth in underserved regions able to exhibit proficiency in
basic digital skills has increased manifold during this period.
• Civic Participation: More youth leading online-offline civic activities ensure contributions to
local governance and policy-making.
•YDE: The process of youth development empowerment that will be smoothly conducted by
better economic opportunities for improved employability and entrepreneurship opportunities
due to improved digital skills.
•SD: means that, with the contribution of improved digital skills, youth will be more active in
reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially but not limited to, those
referring to GOALS of Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduction in
Inequalities.
Budget Estimate
Needs Assessment & Capacity Building: $30,000
Content Development & Dissemination: $50,000
ICT Infrastructure & Innovation Hubs: $100,000
Training Programs & Mentorship: $20,000
Online Safety Mechanisms & Monitoring: $10,000
Total: $210,000
Proposal Justification
The digital divide poses a significant barrier to youth development in the automation era. By
empowering young people with digital skills and facilitating access to technology, the
“Empowering Youth for Inclusive Digital Citizenship” initiative aligns with UNCSTD’s
mandate to promote science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development. This
initiative bridges the digital divide, fosters youth civic engagement, and equips youth to
contribute meaningfully to the future of work and their communities.
References
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (2020). Measuring Digital
Development: Facts and Figures 2020.
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/facts/FactsFigures2020.pdf
United Nations (2023). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023.
https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2023/
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) (2021). ICT in Education.
https://uis.unesco.org/en/topic/information-and-communication-technologies-ict
World Bank (2023). World Development Report 2023: Data for a Better World.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2023/data
