Applications Invited for the Local Pathways Fellowship 2024

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About the Organization

We aim to empower young people to be catalysts for change, enabling them to champion and create local pathways that lead to sustainable development. We believe that by equipping young individuals with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need, we can ignite a transformative movement that shapes the future of our cities and communities.

By supporting the growth of knowledge capacity in cities and nurturing young leaders, we are fostering a generation of change-makers who have the vision and determination to build a more sustainable future. Together, their actions, projects, and endeavours represent a powerful force in addressing global challenges and advancing the cause of sustainable development.

About the Fellowship

The Local Pathways Fellowship seeks to provide young leaders with the tools, a platform and a guiding framework for action, and connect them with leading urban development experts and practitioners.

The fellows will take on a journey throughout which they will explore pathways for "localizing" the globally adopted goals and targets, exchange knowledge and ideas, and work to engage local stakeholders in a dialogue around strategies and plans their city needs to build a better future for its citizens.

Objectives:

• Empower young people to mobilize citizens' support for the 2030 Agenda and secure local commitment to prioritize implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Provide young people with the means to engage local stakeholders in dialogue and collaboration for sustainable development
• Equip young people with the tools and resources to advance problem solving for sustainable development at the local level
• Train a young generation of urban sustainability leaders and SDG advocates by educating them about the process of “localizing” the SDGs

Program Method:

The core component of the Fellowship is a practically-oriented training program, which is designed to enable young fellows to understand the process of “localizing” SDG 11 in the cities they represent and to guide them through the development of a project. This is done through:

• The Sustainable Cities Online Course which has been developed through a partnership between the SDG Academy and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS). This course examines how urban sustainability can be delivered with increasing productivity and reduced inequality; provision of universal basic services and infrastructure; protection of the urban environments; and other solutions and investments, both speculative and in action around the world. Learners will emerge from the course understanding how governments, private stakeholders and other actors can improve urban development to heed the call of SDG 11.
• Monthly webinars with experts who share their insight into various aspects of the industry
• A series of monthly assignments, which guides fellows through the development of a project that proposes a solution to the challenges in their cities. The first half of the fellowship is focused on localized research and the second half on idea generation and the design process of solutions.
• A peer-to-peer network of young urban leaders and innovators from over 75 cities across the globe
• Visibility opportunities as top candidates can be selected to participate in international conferences and events such as the International Conference on Sustainable Development, Vatican Youth Symposium, or the World Urban Forum etc. or recommended for awards such as the Local Project Challenge by Center for Sustainable Urban Development at Columbia University to or Habitat's Youth Advisory Body.

The Local Pathways Fellowship seeks to provide young leaders with a platform, a guiding framework for action, and connect them with leading development experts and practitioners:

• Guide and inform their work around their existing and future projects, and help them develop insights about local sustainable development challenges;
• Provide them with a framework for engagement with local stakeholders;
• Facilitate mutual learning and exchange of urban solutions;
• Support them in becoming local advocates that promote and advocate for dialogue and problem solving for sustainable development.

The fellows will take on a 10-month journey throughout which they will explore pathways for "localizing" the globally adopted goals and targets, exchange knowledge and ideas, and work to engage local stakeholders in a dialogue around pathways towards a better future for their fellow citizens.

The Local Pathways Fellowship is unpaid. The fellows will benefit from global visibility and exposure as champions for sustainable urban development, numerous opportunities to develop their expertise, as well as access to a vast network of SDG professionals and advocates.

Our Impact:

LPF has actively participated in numerous global events, establishing its presence as a key player in the field of sustainable urban development. These events include Innovate4Cities, Malaysia Urban Forum, International Conference for Sustainable Development, Vatican Youth Symposium, Zero Emissions Solutions Conference, and World Urban Forum (WUF9 & WUF10), Through its engagement in these platforms, LPF has showcased innovative ideas and solutions developed by its fellows, while also gaining recognition and contributing to the global discourse on urban sustainability.

Eligibility

To be selected as a Local Pathways Fellow, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application (exceptions may apply);
• Candidates must be based in the same city throughout the entire duration of the Fellowship (February through November 2024);
• Candidates must be fluent in English and the local language of the cities they represent;
• Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to and a solid understanding of the concept of sustainable development;
• Candidates must be able to commit a minimum of 5-7 hours each week on average;
• Candidates must have a stable internet connection;
• A minimum of one year of professional or academic experience in development practice, urban planning, community engagement and advocacy, or similar;
• A demonstrated background in research, development practice, advocacy or similar fields would be considered a strong asset.

Candidates representing any city and country in the world are encouraged to apply, however, SDSN Youth will try to ensure diversity of regional representation among the fellows.

How to Apply

The 2024 Local Pathways Fellowship applications will be accepted from December 18, 2023, until January  22, 2024, at  11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time). The selected fellows will be notified by January 28, 2024, and the Fellowship begins on March 1st, 2024. 

Apply now!

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Tags Skill Development Smart City and Urban Issues Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Leadership Others