Youth Leadership on climate change initiative - Lessons from UNICEF Malawi

The Youth-leadership on Climate Change initiative supports young climate change advocates to influence national climate change related policies. In each country, UNICEF hires a coordinator, specifically a young person, who is then responsible for creating a coordination unit. This coordination unit ensures collaboration among youth organizations and individuals who actively advocate for climate change action and implement plans to influence policies. Plans are developed along four pillars: awareness, advocacy, policy negotiation, and strengthening of youth-led movements.

This case study describes results achieved by UNICEF and young people in four flood-prone districts in the southern region of Malawi on awareness and strengthening of youth-led movements. The program provides training on climate action planning, leadership, and community engagement integrated with community-led activities supported by UNICEF funding.