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THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF COMMONWEALTH YOUTH VIA INNOVATION
2023 is the ‘Commonwealth Year of Youth’ and this article examines how youth innovation can fuel sustainable development.
Innovation now serves as a catalyst for social progress, economic expansion and increased competitiveness on a global scale. By enabling nations to create cutting-edge technologies and services that benefit the populace, it can also assist them in gaining a competitive edge in the international market. Innovation can also result in the growth of new industries that can support job creation and economic expansion.
Recognising the potential of innovation, nations all over the world are actively investing in research and development (R&D), encouraging entrepreneurship and fostering an innovation culture. Within the Commonwealth nations, a diverse group of countries spanning six continents, innovation has also emerged as a crucial component in maximising the potential of its youth population. The importance of innovation in fostering economic growth and development is well-known among lawmakers. It can boost output, boost effectiveness and produce fresh goods and services that can benefit the economy.
Parliamentarians are crucial in assisting and facilitating the success of youth in the innovation ecosystem because they can give them access to resources, support and direction. Politicians can also develop initiatives to support young people who want to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship. This will promote an innovative culture and build a more inclusive society. This article investigates how lawmakers can encourage youth innovation. It emphasises the significance of their participation in influencing policies, promoting resource access and fostering an environment that supports young innovators.
Understanding the Youth Demographic in the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth, comprising 56 nations, exhibits various economic structures, population demographics and cultural heritages. The demographic of these member nations' estimated 2.5 billion inhabitants includes many young individuals. In numerous
Commonwealth countries, a significant proportion, exceeding 60% of the population, is categorised within the youth demographic, encompassing individuals aged 15 to 29.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a notable transformation in this demographic, characterised by increased participation of young individuals in higher education and employment. Hence, to achieve success, Parliamentarians must develop a deeper understanding of the desires and expectations of the younger generation. Recognising the challenges these young individuals encounter is imperative, and policymakers must strive to cultivate a conducive environment that nurtures their growth and progress. For example, India, which encompasses approximately 356 million individuals, is not only the largest democracy globally but also a member of the Commonwealth. Harnessing the potential of this group is thus crucial for societal progress, economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Parliamentarians as Champions of Youth Innovation
Parliamentarians in the Commonwealth are in a unique situation to help young people develop new ideas. As chosen officials, it is their job to speak up for the wants and hopes of their people, including the youth. Using their political power, Parliamentarians can change policies and pass laws that encourage and support creativity led by young people. Also, they can bring about change by getting different groups to work together, such as government organisations, university institutions, big businesses and civil society groups. Using evidence-based planning, lawmakers can ensure that young creators' wants and goals are met. These rules cover access to funding and financing, intellectual property rights, schooling and skills development, legal systems and access to funding and financing. Parliamentarians can also make it easier for government departments, universities and companies to talk to each other. This creates an atmosphere that is good for growth.
Additionally, lawmakers may push to include innovation and entrepreneurship education in school curricula to give students the tools they need to successfully navigate the changing employment market. To that end, the mentoring and resources they need must be available to these young innovators. By interacting with the appropriate Ministries and Government organisations, legislators may promote the creation of innovation centres, incubators and accelerators that provide young inventors with access to infrastructure, money and mentoring. These programmes may catalyse interaction, information exchange and networking amongst young innovators, business professionals and financiers. To foster new ideas and entrepreneurs, lawmakers should collaborate with financial institutions to develop credit programmes and grants specifically for young people. By encouraging collaborations between universities, research institutes and the corporate sector, legislators may also improve access to facilities for research and development. This will help young inventors turn their concepts into workable solutions.
Capacity Building and Skills Development
Parliamentarians may support legislation by recognising the significance of capacity building and skills development, and advocating for measures that provide young people with the education and training they need to succeed in the developed economy. This involves fostering programmes for technical and vocational training and STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Public-private partnerships must also support internship, apprenticeship and mentoring programmes that expose young people to actual innovation ecosystems. Furthermore, by participating in cross-border exchange programmes and receiving scholarships supported by legislators, young innovators may gain knowledge from experiences and best practices worldwide. Furthermore, programmes should prioritise to support the participation of underrepresented and marginalised populations and make innovation available to everyone. Thanks to the Commonwealth, Parliamentarians have a unique platform to work together on young innovation projects. It enables Parliamentarians to exchange knowledge, best practices and lessons from their respective countries through peer-topeer learning, policy exchanges and joint research initiatives to foster innovation ecosystems across member countries through the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and other multilateral forums. Parliamentarians may also push for expanded international collaboration in R&D, technological transfer and funding for innovation.
The Power of Innovation in Youth Development
Innovation has a vast potential to help young people grow. Youth are given the tools they need to think critically, creatively and entrepreneurially, allowing them to make significant contributions to society. Young people may solve social issues, provide employment and promote economic progress via innovation. Additionally, innovation fosters a culture of experimentation, curiosity and lifelong learning, allowing youth to adjust to fast-shifting socio-economic environments.
The Commonwealth has embraced innovation as a vital factor in empowering the youth because it recognises the transformational potential of innovation. One initiative to encourage cooperation between Commonwealth countries in technology, entrepreneurship and research and development is the Commonwealth Innovation Hub. It is a digital networking platform for innovation to connect, unlock and unleash the creative potential of the 2.5 billion persons who live in the 56 countries that are members of the organisation to overcome the most difficult challenges in the path to sustainable development. Professionals, corporations, civil society and youth networks are among their target audiences.
Recognising the contributions of young people to innovation is also essential. Awards such as the Commonwealth Innovation Awards honour innovative solutions to urgent global issues. These awards recognise and commemorate Commonwealth member nation individuals and organisations that have developed innovative technological, social impact and sustainability solutions. The awards seek to promote and highlight innovative ideas that have the potential to positively impact communities and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development objectives. Winners of the awards receive recognition, assistance and opportunities for networking to sustain and expand their innovations. The Commonwealth Innovation Awards are designed to encourage and inspire innovation among Commonwealth nations.
Furthermore, the Commonwealth Secretariat and some of the world's leading youth organisations have signed a historic agreement that heralds the launch of a new era of youth empowerment. Following the ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding, the Commonwealth Alliance for Quality Youth Leadership has identified areas for collaboration, such as promoting volunteerism, offering young people the practical experiences needed to compete in the labour market, creating an environment where collaboration and innovation can thrive, and supporting the development of leadership and useful life skills. There will be over 250 youths that will gain skills development through this groundbreaking agreement.
An example of support specifically directed to young innovators is the Young Innovation Fund, founded by the World Bank Group. This grant initiative was developed for the purpose of assisting and financing creative projects headed by youth around the world. The fund gives financial support to youths with innovative ideas and solutions towards pressing social, economic and environmental issues. This effort emphasises that young people have unique views, new ideas and a spirit of entrepreneurship that may lead towards effective change. Furthermore, the initiatives provide chosen candidates with financial assistance as well as mentoring, coaching and networking opportunities. The fund’s comprehensive strategy helps to develop the youths’ entrepreneurial skills and ability to manage the hurdles of launching new ventures.
Conclusion
Legislators need to give youths the authority to take responsibility for their own ideas, projects and futures, ultimately impacting their communities' environmentally sustainable development. Through investments made in youth-led innovation, they will become active participants in the process of discovering innovative solutions.
Investing in youth empowers them to effect positive social change and make contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations.
The goal of the Commonwealth to cultivate an innovation culture is shown in the establishment of programs such as the Commonwealth Innovation Hub, the Commonwealth Innovation Awards, and the Commonwealth Alliance for Quality Youth Leadership. These programs provide a stage for young people to demonstrate their capabilities and highlight the Commonwealth's dedication to this end. In addition, youth in the Commonwealth are strongly encouraged to seek out additional sources of finance to assist them in achieving their potential in future innovative endeavours.
The Commonwealth is fostering the development of a generation of young innovators who will be able to drive sustainable development within their communities and build a better future by giving youths in the Commonwealth the right resources, support and recognition. Innovation is essential for the sustained growth of member nations.
Parliamentarians can unlock the youths’ potential by creating policies, supporting legislation and encouraging innovation. They must collaborate with member countries to equip youths with sufficient resources, mentoring and capacity-building. Parliamentarians may use international cooperation and collaboration to establish a global ecosystem that empowers youth via innovation. Thus, Parliamentarians must realise the transformational potential of innovation and encourage Commonwealth youth innovation to ensure a better future for the next generation.
