International Youth Day 2023 (August 12)

Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World

Concept Note: Green Excursion

OVERVIEW

Today, the world is embarking on a green transition. The shift towards an environmentally sustainable and
climate-friendly world is critical not only for responding to the global climate crisis but also for achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A successful transition towards a greener world will depend
on the development of green skills in the population. Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values and
attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”.1 These include
technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies and processes in
occupational settings, as well as transversal skills that draw on a range of knowledge, values and attitudes
to facilitate environmentally sustainable decisions in work and in life.2

In this connection, this year's International Youth Day 2023 is being celebrated on the theme " Green Skills
for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World." As UNDP Nepal has been promoting green skills among young
people by providing them with opportunities, skills and green grants to tackle environmental issues at the
community level, it is organizing a one day 'Green Excursion' for 20 Youth Climate Catalysts (YCC) and
seven locals in charges of Hariyo Pusta initiative. The YCC and Hariyo Pusta have been actively involved
at the community level, tackling waste-related issues and promoting eco-friendly initiatives. This excursion
aims to provide them with valuable insights into the composting process, the transformation of plastic waste
into upcycled products, and how young individuals can turn trash into cash.

The day-long excursion will commence from the UN house and include visits to two locations: Blue Waste
to Value in Shankharapur Municipality-7, Sankhu, and ICIMOD's The Knowledge Park situated in
Godavari.

OBJECTIVE OF THE EXCURSION

- Offer opportunities for the youth to engage in diverse green ventures, fostering inspiration and
encouraging the development of environmentally conscious ideas within them.
- Provide youth with an opportunity to learn green skills on how waste management and upcycling
ventures turning waste into values.

1
OECD/Cedefop (2014). Greener Skills and Jobs | en | OECD. OECD Green Growth Studies, OECD Publishing
2
European Training Foundation (2023). Edited green transition policy brief EN (europa.eu)
ABOUT THE EXCURSION SITES:

1. Blue Waste to Value (BW2V): is a social enterprise dedicated to creating value from waste.
Rapid urbanization in the Kathmandu valley has made it difficult for the government to address
the resultant increasing levels of waste in an efficient manner. Though there were several not-for-
profit organizations working on the issue in an informal manner, there was no coordinated effort.
Seeing this opportunity, BW2V was created with the idea of establishing a proper waste
management system and procedure for the citizens of the Kathmandu Valley. Since its inception
in July 2014, BW2V has been working to maximize value from waste by promoting recycling,
reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills, and creating green jobs. BW2V became a Private
Limited organization after registering in the Office of Company Registrar, under the Ministry of
Industry. As an enterprise focusing on waste management, BW2V has taken advantage of the
Government Public-Private Partnership to launch various projects and to encourage partnerships
with like-minded individuals, organizations and commercial establishments in order to introduce
sustainable waste management practices. BW2V has been able to capitalize on this policy by
using the support, resources, and knowledge from both sectors to establish sustainable waste
management models. BW2V are committed to Collection, Segregation, Processing: reuse and
recycling, Logistics & Disposal Services and a door-to-door collection.

2. The Godavari Knowledge Park: The ICIMOD Knowledge Park has provided initial capacity
building training on various technologies and livelihood options based on member country
demands. They have been further out scaled by local non-governmental organizations and
partners for commercial productions. The Park provides a practical pendant to the often more
theoretical activities of the Centre. It is a place where different technologies, and farming and
other practices useful for sustainable development can be tested, selected, and demonstrated;
where farmers and those who work with them can be trained; and which can serve as a repository
for plant germplasm resources and associated floral and faunal biodiversity.
ITITENARY (TENTATIVE): 11 August 2023

Time Activity Remarks

7:45 – 8:00 Assembly outside UN House Breakfast box is provided
8:00 – 10:00 Travel to Blue to Waste Value By Bus to Sankhu
10:00 – 12:00 Observation at Blue Waste to Value Focal point from BW2V will
explain about the venture.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Travel to Godavari Knowledge Park Godavari
(GKP)
14:00 – 15:30 Observation at The Godavari Focal point from GKP explains the
Knowledge Park visit process of its work
15:30 – 16:30 Leave from GKP
16:30 Reach UN House Youth leave to their respective
destination