Ready Reset Recharge Resolution 2020

Ready Reset Recharge Resolution 2020

July 10, 2020

We young people, representing a host  of student groups from local universities, organizations and movements in Jamaica, have convened for 5 days , between July 6 and 10 in our virtual webinar series ‘Ready Reset Recharge, to explore youth-led solutions to the COVID-19 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, with emphasis on issues of particular concern to our peers.

In consideration of: 

1. Our deep concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 on our education, future employment prospects and overall well-being
2. Our equally deep concerns about the impact of COVID 19 on existing livelihoods, nation’s economy and future growth prospects

Taking Note of:

3. The comprehensive review of the global crisis triggered by the COVID-19 as outlined in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) special Report: ‘2020 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES: COVID-19 and Human Development: Assessing the Crisis, Envisioning the Recovery’;Taking Note of the Report’s general assessment that the COVID-19 pandemic:Is the “the greatest test faced by the world since the formation of the United Nations”;

4. Is more than a health emergency but a systemic crisis already affecting economies and societies in unprecedented ways, triggering the worst plunge in economic activity since the Great Depression.

5. Taking note of the Report’s specific assessments that the COVID-19 pandemic:

a. Is compounding effects on health, education and the economy which are intertwined and interrelated;

b. Has revealed significant levels of unequal access to technologies which is having a sizable effect on communities’ ability to confront and overcome the health and socio- economic impacts of COVID-19;

c. Has revealed a widening digital gap between countries and within countries in accessing technologies such as computers, internet and broadband which is effectively worsening effective out-of-school rates;

d. Has showcased that some 1.4 Billion children in 147 countries were out of school representing 86% of children worldwide, impacting educational development

6. Is given weight to the assertions of the scientific community that human pressures on the environment, increase the risk that such transmission will become more frequent;

• In reaffirming:
• a. the key recommendations in the UNDP special Report: ‘2020 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES: COVID-19 and Human Development: Assessing the Crisis, Envisioning the Recovery’,
• b. the need for prioritizing areas including quality education, health and access to information and technology in the Post COVID era and
• c, the understanding that the well-being of youth is critical to the achievement of Jamaica’s Vision 2030 Plan for National Development  
• 7. We do hereby resolve to individually and collectively advocate for:
• 7.1 A Digital Economy and Society to include:

1. the acceleration of the regulatory framework and programmes leading to universal access to the internet and related technology
2. adequate investments in the digital economy as a means of sustaining and expanding economic activity; 
3. Provision of reliable infrastructure to facilitate online transactions and e-commerce
4. closure of the technology gap by improving access to devices and the internet thereby building people’s capabilities and social interactions. 
5. Policies that promote youth-driven innovation, partnerships and opportunities.

7.2 Improvements to the educational sector to include:

1. Learning opportunities for students with special needs, and learning disabilities;
2. Tertiary level programmes aligned to emerging trends and requirements for sustainability and resilience to future shocks and crises;
3. Improvement in access to more affordable tertiary education for all
4. Acceleration of efforts to promote effective integration of information and communications technologies into formal and informal modes of education

• 7.3 Increased Considerations for the Future World of Work to include:

1. International Labour Organization’s recommendations on the youth employment crisis and the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.
2. Increased efforts to address the high rates of youth unemployment/ underemployment, through skills development and vocational training to facilitate the transition from school to work, with emphasis on green jobs related to areas such as renewable energy, eco/agro-tourism; fisheries conservation; sustainable urban and rural planning;
3. Improving synergies between the education and employment sectors to increase the prospects for integrating youth into a sustainable labour market through increased innovation and entrepreneurship.
4. Development of youth hubs at the local and national level that foster knowledge sharing, mentorship and internship enabling young people to become better prepared for the world of work.
5. Creating an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs and those in non-traditional areas of work to be able to access resources

7.4  Increased action to reduce the impacts of shocks and crises to include:

• Improving the knowledge and capabilities of vulnerable youth to mitigate and adapt to climate, pandemic and other shocks
• Strengthening partnerships between youth groups and public/private entities on Climate Action
• Increased representation of youth on boards and committees geared towards environmental protection/ conservation
• Greater engagement of youth in the design of public campaigns surrounding issues related to pandemics/ climate hazards and other shocks and crises
• Advocacy for increased allocation of resources focusing on:
  • clean physical infrastructure investment;
  • building efficiency retrofits,
  • investment in education and training to address immediate unemployment from COVID-19,
  • natural capital investment for ecosystem resilience and regeneration, and
  • clean Research and Development (R&D) investment.

8. We do also hereby resolve to:

1. Continue our joint conversations on these issues on an annual basis to assess progress and update our calls for action
2. Adopt monitoring tools to assess progress on our calls for action
3. Develop and implement advocacy, outreach and communication campaigns 

Fully committed to playing our part in helping youth navigate the impacts of COVID, and in supporting our nation’s efforts to build a resilient and sustainable economy.

DATED 10 July 2020

Participating youth organizations                                                                    

 University of Technology Jamaica Students’ Union

 Northern Caribbean University’s United Students’ Movement

 The University of West Indies Mona campus Guild of Students

 Commonwealth Youth Council

 National Youth Council of Jamaica

 Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students

 UWI STAT (Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow) Ambassador Corps

 Young People for Action on Climate Change Jamaica

 Mona Association of Postgraduate Students (MAPS)