KINGSTON, Jamaica – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi Country Office in Jamaica has announced its third annual Ready Set Great youth in development Conference for October 17, globally commemorated as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The announcement was made on August 12 – International Youth Day – by five of UNDP’s youth partners in a three-minute video production distributed on social media and Jamaica Magazine.

Youth delegates are expected to discuss issues and solutions related to youth poverty and finalise a Call to Action.

“The event, which is being convened in-person for the first time, will also feature sessions tailored to help youth with a heart for social causes, activism, and social enterprises to navigate the unique challenges faced by youth in this field and strengthen their capacity to serve. Delegates unable to attend in person will be facilitated via a dynamic online platform,” the UNDP said in a statement.

“The conference will end with UNDP’s third annual Development Challenge, a pitch competition for university students with innovative solutions to advance Jamaica’s national development priorities which is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Competitors will have five minutes to convince delegates and the judges that their pitch is number one. Delegates vote for their favourite with their cumulative votes counting as part of the final decision. The winners will be awarded paid internships at UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica.

The steering committee leading the implementation of Ready Set Great includes representatives of UNDP, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Vision 2030 Secretariat, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Research (SALISES), Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Youths For Excellence Limited, Youths Inspiring Positive Change Jamaica, Young Women and Men of Purpose, Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students, and the Caribbean Youth Climate Justice Coalition,” the statement continued.

The UNDP advised that registrations are now open at www.readysetgreatja.com.

“Space is limited for the in-person event but remains unlimited at this time for delegates attending online,” the UNDP said.

The youth demographic is one of several groups targeted for services under UNDP MCO’s Country Programme 2022 – 2026, having been identified as requiring urgent support to strengthen their social resilience and inclusion.

UNDP’s Country Programme aims to contribute to national efforts to reduce multidimensional poverty.