The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration

The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration outlines youth-led priorities for the global development agenda following the Millennium Development Goals. It calls for the reduction of structural inequalities, the protection of refugees and displaced persons, and the implementation of sustainable environmental practices. Key recommendations include the creation of 'Green Jobs' in Africa, the adoption of renewable energy systems in South African housing, and the establishment of a global disaster relief network. The declaration emphasizes the need for youth participation in governance and the alignment of national policies with the Sustainable Development Goals and South Africa's National Development Plan for 2030.

• The youth leaders identify four structural barriers to addressing inequalities: economic, social, political, and environmental.
• The declaration calls for the international community to ensure that international aid promotes self-sustainability for recipient countries or organisations.
• Regarding conflict and disasters, the document recommends creating a global network for disaster relief that integrates early warning systems and response stations, with specific attention to Small Island Developing States.
• The document advocates for the creation of 'Green Jobs' in Africa, specifically within the public transportation sector, to reduce environmental impact and biodiversity loss.
• The declaration urges the international community to implement the Green Climate Fund and to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
• At the national level in South Africa, the declaration demands that all new housing and building developments be legally required to install renewable energy systems and water recycling mechanisms, such as solar geysers and grey water recycling.
• The youth leaders call for the inclusion of young people as active partners in development through organisations like the UNDP and UNFPA.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2013). The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-final.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration. 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration |date=2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs20132013, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-SAIIA-Young-Leaders-Declaration-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }